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Glossary of Terms Drainage - A system of gutters and drainpipes that carry water away from the foundation of a house. Drop Outlet - Formed piece that serves as the hole from which the water travels from the horizontal section of the gutter to the downspout. Elbow - Pre-finished angled piece for directing water
flow. Elbows come in many sizes and 2 Styles. A or B End Cap - Flat formed piece that is placed at the
end of a gutter section. Gutter End Caps come in two sizes for a K style
gutter. Not to be confused with a gutter guard end cap which prevents
birds and other small animals from entering Fascia - A flat board that runs horizontally along the eaves of a roof, typically capping the ends of the roof rafters to give the roof edge a more finished look and provide a base for attaching gutters. Gutters - Horizontal channels installed at the edge
of a roof to carry rainwater or melted snow away from the house. Hanger - Flat strap that is installed under the roofing material and hold up the horizontal section of the gutter Inside Mitre Box - A corner piece of the horizontal section that is deflected in. Leader - A pipe that carries rainwater from the gutters
to the ground, sewers, or wells. Outside Mitre Box - A corner piece of the horizontal section that is deflected out. Pitch - The angle at which a horizontal section of
gutter is tilted in order to force water to flow toward a downspout. Run - Length of a horizontal section of gutter. |
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| Splashblock - Plastic or concrete surface
put under a downspout to direct water away from the house.
Strap - Flat hangers that are nailed into the house to hold the downspouts in place. Further Advice Why Gutter Guards are a Good Idea What is the fundamental job of a gutter protector? Being
a gutter protector is pretty tough work--24 hours a day, 365 days a year,
year in and year out, the gutter protector has to defend your gutter,
in all kinds of weather and wind storm conditions, against an assault
of leaves, blossoms, twigs, birds, squirrels, balls, toys, and so on.
However, there are some homes located under a canopy of trees--no daylight
to be seen from late May to the end of November. It's these homeowners who would normally have to clean
their gutters 5-to-6 times in the fall and another 3-to-4 times in the
spring to keep their gutters clean and free flowing that find "suit
and tie" maintenance a welcome alternative to cleaning gutters. * Sagging Gutters Leaf Guards eliminate one of the messiest jobs at your home, freeing up your time for more leisurely activities. Leaf Guards promote being cautious, as you will avoid dangerous ladder climbing to clean out clogs caused by leaves and debris. Leaf Guards offer a low profile, are pleasing to the eye and preserve your home's "curb appeal." A Word on Ice dams: Ice, snow and wind can have devastating consequences on the coziest of homes. Last winter alone there was over $1.5 billion dollars in insured losses due to burst pipes, frozen gutters and other weather-related disasters, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.). "It is when the leaves start to turn and not when the snow is beginning to fall that homeowners need to get ready for severe winter weather," says Jayna Neagle, spokeswoman for the I.I.I. "A little time and effort in October or November can prevent the heartache of burst pipes and other disasters when Old Man Winter brings snow, freezing temperatures and arctic winds. The I.I.I. suggests that homeowners take the precautions by maintaining gutters and removing leaves, acorns, sticks and other debris from gutters. This allows melting snow and ice to flow freely. This can also prevent ice damming - a condition where water is unable to properly drain through the gutters and instead seeps into the house causing water to drip from the ceiling and walls. You may also consider installing "gutter guards." |