How Underground Downspout Extensions Can Affect Your Home

According to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI), “Downspouts are designed to drain water from the gutters and discharge it safely away from the foundation.” Does this mean, then, that underground downspout extensions are necessary for your home? Advantage Seamless Gutters, experts in seamless gutters installation, shares some notes on this matter.

The Short AnswerBuried downspouts are not necessary but that doesn’t mean there won’t be any advantages for you in having them either. Certain measures need to be taken (such as having a professional contractor, like Advantage Seamless Gutters, by your side at every step of the gutters- and downspouts-installation process) in whichever way you choose your downspouts to be designed. Benefits of Going UndergroundOne of the benefits of matching a gutter installation with buried downspouts is safety. You won’t have to worry about anyone tripping over them and hurting themselves because of it. Your downspouts won’t be as easily damaged too as they could be when they are exposed. Buried downspouts also contribute to better visual appeal as they make your exteriors look cleaner, giving you an unobstructed view or your home’s facade.What to Watch Out ForIf you decide that you want underground downspout extensions after all, you should know enough about them to spot whether your contractor is installing them correctly or not. As InterNACHI warns, downspouts “..often discharge directly onto the ground, but through the use of extensions or other devices, they should be configured in such a way that roof runoff does not saturate soil at or beneath the foundation.” Beware of installers that simply stick an extension into the ground or terminate pipes too closely to your foundation. Pipes should be installed at a slight slope, as well, and be made of materials that will not easily corrode.Whatever decision you arrive at, let expert gutter installation and gutter cleaning service provider, Advantage Seamless Gutters, help you out. We are a family-owned business that offers various products – such as 5-inch K-style, 6-inch K-style, and 6-inch half-round gutters – for our customers to choose from. We can do the same for you too. Call us at 218-270-5454 (Baxter), 218-692-2663 (Crosslake), 320-460-1338 (Alexandria), or 612-800-0910 (Bloomington). We can offer you a free estimate if you have a home in St. Cloud, MN.