The effectiveness of the gutters depends on how successfully the downspouts manage runoff. When water is not carried a safe distance away from the house, it can pool against siding, seep into the foundation, cause basement flooding, and oversaturate landscaping. Downspout extensions are particularly useful when they are integrated into an eco-friendly landscaping plan.
Downspout Extensions 101
Here is a crash course in what you need to know about extensions for downspouts.
What are Downspout Extensions?
Downspout extensions are accessories designed to guide water further away from your foundation. When standard downspouts do not carry water far enough, runoff can pool beneath the downpipes and cause water damage – soil erosion, cracks in the foundation, stained interior walls and/or on siding.
Why are Downspout Extensions important?
Downspout extensions direct water away from siding, soffit, fascia, windows, and doors.
Proper drainage, particularly in regions where soil does not percolate the water away from the foundation, helps eliminate pooled water, preventing soil erosion and mosquito infestations.
Extending downspouts to improve the efficiency of the gutter system minimizes the risk of structural damage.
Using a downspout extension when there is little space between your homes makes you a good neighbour.
The Right Extension for Your Property
How do you choose the right one for your property? When selecting a downspout extension consider:
- Length – a minimum of six feet away from the house, optimum 10 feet
- Material – metal lasts longer than PVC; for flexible extensions, select a high-performance plastic
- Aesthetics – underground pipes or buried extensions help boost curb appeal
- Grade – If the grade of your home slopes toward the foundation instead of away, you will need a much longer extension
- Bylaws governing water drainage regulations – buried downspout extensions, for example, require trenches (digging, etc.)
Types of Downspout Extensions
Extensions fall into two general categories, above ground and underground or buried. Choose the one the meets both your functional and aesthetics requirements.
Rigid Downspout Extensions
Made from aluminum or PVC, rigid downspout extensions are lengths of pipe attached to the downspout elbow. Hinge options allow the extension to fold up when mowing the lawn or not in use.
Flexible Downspout extensions
Flexible downspouts, constructed of high-grade plastics, are easy to move around obstacles and reposition as needed. Also considered as types of flexible extensions are roll-out (out-of-the-way until activated) and accordion (can be repositioned and lengthened) extensions.
Splash Blocks
Splash blocks resemble troughs that have one open end. Manufactured from concrete, metal, or PVC, they are a popular choice with homeowners because the can be a decorative part of the landscaping. However, since splash blocks typically move runoff just a short distance (3 to 5 feet), they can help prevent soil erosion when paired with another type of extension.
Buried Downspouts
Buried downspouts are a popular choice of homeowners who prefer to put the downspout extension someplace that will improve their curb appeal. Designed to carry water away from the house further than other downspout extensions, the installation process is more expensive and complex – digging a trench, calculating the correct slope, and ensuring it doesn’t interfere with landscaping or hardscaping.
Creative Drainage Solutions
When creative drainage solutions are integrated into an eco-friendly landscaping plan, the result is a perfect blend of functionality and aesthetics. Here are a few design ideas to get you started.
Rain Gardens
Rain gardens are a real curb appeal pleaser. Build one by digging a shallow depression constructed specifically to absorb and filter water gradually. Showcase indigenous plants, grasses, and shrubs. Downspouts connecting the house to the rain garden can be above ground or buried. Rain gardens are eco-friendly – low maintenance, attract birds and butterflies, and help rain and snowmelt percolate through the soil.
Swales
A swale is a shallow grassy dip that can be shaped as part of the lawn to redirect runoff or placed directly beneath downpipes.
Dry Creek Beds
Use a combination of river rocks, stones, and boulders to create a natural-looking landscaping feature to stop excess water flow or advanced pooling. If you live in the lower mainland, check local bylaws.
Gravel Trenches
Smaller in scale, consider installing a gravel pathway underneath downspouts to guide water from the gutters to a place where it can be safely absorbed in the ground.
