After a heavy storm, you walk outside and find a trench dug into the mulch under the eaves, or a puddle against the house that’s still there the next afternoon. Maybe the basement has a damp corner that only shows up after big rains. Rain gutters in Republic, MO have one job, which is getting water off the roof and away from your house, and when they fall short the damage shows up at ground level.
It’s hard to know where the problem is. The gutters might be too small, the downspouts might be in the wrong places, or the water might be landing right where it does the most harm. You want someone to follow the water from the roof to the ground and fix the whole path.
APC Roofing installs rain gutters as part of the roof system. We’re GAF Certified, licensed and insured, and estimates are free. Call 913-398-5020 to have your gutters and drainage checked.
How much water your roof actually sheds
Roofs collect more water than most people expect. One inch of rain on 1,000 square feet of roof adds up to roughly 600 gallons. A typical house has more roof area than that, and spring and summer thunderstorms in southwest Missouri can drop an inch or more in an hour.
All of that water heads for the gutters. If they can’t carry it to the downspouts fast enough, it spills over the front edge and lands right next to your foundation. That’s why sizing, downspout count and pitch matter so much. Our gutter installation in Republic page covers how a system gets sized.
Where rain gutters most often fall short
Inside corners and valleys
Where two roof slopes meet in a valley, they send a concentrated stream of water into one short stretch of gutter. In a hard rain, that water can shoot right over the gutter. A larger gutter, a downspout near the corner or a small diverter on the roof can help.
Long runs with one downspout
A long gutter run that drains to a single downspout has to carry the water from a lot of roof. Adding a second downspout often fixes overflow without replacing the gutter.
Gutters with the wrong pitch
Gutters need a slight slope toward each downspout. Too flat, and water sits in the trough, collects debris and spills over in the middle. Over time, sagging hangers can undo the original pitch.
Upper roofs draining onto lower roofs
On two-story homes, an upper downspout often empties onto the lower roof. That water then runs into the lower gutter, which has to handle both roofs at once.
Getting water away from the house
Catching the rain is half the job. The other half is where it lands.
A downspout that empties right against the foundation puts a large volume of water in one spot every storm. Over time, that can wash out soil, settle walkways and push water toward a basement or crawl space. A downspout extension or a splash block that carries water a few feet out helps a lot. Many guides suggest moving it at least several feet from the foundation, onto ground that slopes away from the house.
Much of the ground around Republic and Springfield is rocky clay that soaks up water slowly. When the soil can’t absorb a heavy rain fast enough, water near the foundation tends to sit or run along the wall. Getting the discharge point away from the house matters more on slow-draining ground.
If you’re not sure where your downspouts send water, stand outside during the next steady rain and watch. Any spot where water pools or runs back toward the house is worth noting before your estimate.
Rain gutters through a Missouri winter
Winter tests rain gutters too. Snow on the roof melts on a sunny day, flows into the gutters and refreezes after dark. Ice in the trough adds weight, can bend hangers and blocks the next melt. A downspout that freezes solid turns the gutter above it into a dam. Gutters hung on solidly attached hangers with good pitch shed meltwater faster and are less likely to fill with ice.
Choosing rain gutters for your Republic home
Aluminum is the most common gutter material for homes. It doesn’t rust, it’s light and it can be formed into continuous seamless runs on site. Our seamless gutters in Republic page explains why fewer joints mean fewer leaks. Gutter size and downspout size should come from your roof, not from what’s easiest to install.
How it works
- Book your free estimate. Call 913-398-5020 or request a free estimate online. We’ll measure your roof and look at where water goes now, from the eaves to the ground.
- Get a clear, honest assessment and estimate. You’ll get a written estimate that lists gutter size, downspout locations and any extensions or fascia repair needed.
- Your gutters go up and the site gets cleaned up. The new system is installed and your yard is cleaned up before the crew leaves.
Financing is available through Aqua Finance, Fortifi, Hearth and Home Run Finance.
Overflowing gutters seem like a small nuisance. Year after year, though, that water can wear away the soil around your foundation and find its way into the basement, which is a much bigger repair than a gutter.
Rain gutter questions
Why do my gutters overflow even though they’re clean?
Usually because the gutter or downspouts are too small for the roof area, there aren’t enough downspouts, or the pitch is off. Valleys that dump water into one spot are another common cause.
How far should downspouts drain from the house?
Far enough that water lands on ground sloping away from the foundation. Many guides suggest at least several feet. An extension or splash block is an easy way to get there.
Do rain gutters help keep a basement dry?
They help a lot. Most basement water problems tied to rain start with water collecting next to the foundation, and gutters and downspouts are the first line of defense.
Can you add downspouts to my existing gutters?
Often, yes, if the gutters are in decent shape. If they’re sagging or leaking too, replacing them may make more sense.
Keep the rain moving away from your home
Call 913-398-5020 or book your free estimate online. Once your rain gutters are sized right and your downspouts land the water where it belongs, a big storm is just a big storm, and your basement and flower beds stay dry. See every gutter option on our gutters in Republic, MO page.
