Downspouts move rain water away from your home’s foundation and help prevent costly structural damage. They also save you from flooded basements and damaged landscaping.

Properly installed downspouts should slope toward the gutters and be at least a quarter inch away from the house. This allows gravity to pull water to the downspouts and avoids leaves and other debris from clogging the system.

Gutters

Gutters direct rain water away from the home, preventing moisture damage to shingles, fascia and soffit. This helps prevent mold, mildew and bad indoor air quality.

The system also protects against foundation damage from eroding soil. A gutter system must be installed properly and regularly maintained to function.

A downspout is a vertical pipe that funnels water from a gutter to a drain. It’s essential for most architecture, as it can route water to a specific location or prevent it from pooling at the home’s foundation.

Leaders: These are small boxes that attach to the top of a downspout and fit below the drop outlet. They control water flow and reduce runoff, but they may be difficult to install.

End caps: These are attached to the ends of a length of gutter, keeping water from running off the roof. Mitered corners: These are the corner pieces used to join two sections of a gutter system around a corner. Fasten them with short sheetmetal screws or pop rivets.

Fascia

Fascia is a piece of trim that extends from the eaves of your roof and runs the length of the soffit. It covers the space underneath the soffit and helps to hold the gutters in place.

There are many things that can damage your fascia, including water damage, mold, fungus and algae growths. It can also be damaged by animal damage and even termites.

Whether you’re installing new fascia or just replacing one piece, it’s important to know how to install it correctly. You can install it yourself if you have the right tools and equipment, or you can hire a professional to do it for you.

Fascia is made of collagen, which means it’s supple and malleable. However, it can become stiff over time and lose that stretchy mobility.

Downspouts

Downspouts are an important part of your home’s gutter system. They direct water away from the foundation of your home, preventing flooding and erosion that can cause damage to siding, windows, door frames, and exterior paint.

Ideally, downspouts are located at least 2 feet from your home’s foundation. They should be angled so that water flows away from the foundation and is not deposited onto the siding, window frames, or exterior paint of your home.

For many people, installing a downspout is a do-it-yourself project. However, it’s best to hire a professional to ensure that all parts are correctly aligned.

There are many different types of downspouts and materials to choose from, depending on your personal preferences and the style of your home’s exterior. Aluminum is one of the most popular options, as it’s durable and low-maintenance. It also comes in several colors, making it easy to blend into your home’s siding.

Outlets

One of the most important aspects of your gutter system is the outlets. They’re where water from the gutter enters your downspout, and they have a big impact on how fast it drains.

You don’t have to be a plumber to install outlets, but you should have a few basic tools on hand: Tin snips, a tape measure and some hand seammers.

Use the snips to cut a hole in the gutter that fits the outlet, as shown. It’s a bit tricky, because most outlets taper toward the bottom.

Once you have the hole, it’s just a matter of making sure that the flange underneath is big enough for a rivet to hold in place. It might help to make a template out of cardboard, then trace around the inside to get a good fit.

Then, connect a pair of elbows to the outlet. Use pop rivets or screws to secure them together.

Bobbie