Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Rain gutter and downspout terminology

I had to look up what to call some of the pieces involved with gutters.  From top to bottom, here is a glossary of some terms:
  • Rain deflector:  Not actually part of a gutter but rather it is a metal guide which is installed on the roof over a door to guide water sideways and thus reduces water falling over the door.  Often not needed over a gutter system.
  • Drip edge flashing: Metal roof edge which extends from under shingles.  Guides water away from edge of shingles.  Might be considered part of the roof.
  • Fascia board: Board running along the ends of the rafters at the edge of the roof.  The gutter is often attached to it.
  • Splash guard: A baffle which raises the edge of a gutter, to divert the flow of water into the gutter. Often needed at an inside corner due to the water flow from the corresponding trough where two roofs meet.
  • Gutter leaf guard: A screen or other device over the gutter to block most leaves from entering the trough.
  • Hangers: Brackets that support the gutter.
  • Rain gutter, gutter, or eaves trough: The horizontal trough which captures rain water below the edge of the roof.
  • Drop out or outlet tube: Connector for the top end of a downspout.  Short tube which is sealed to the edges of a hole in the gutter which has been cut for the tube.
  • Leader head, conductor head, or rainhead: A decorative box to collect rain water from gutters and guide it down a downspout.  Used instead of an outlet tube.
  • Downspout strainer: A wire mesh or grate at the top of the downspout to block debris from flowing down the downspout.
  • Downspout: The vertical tube which carries water downward.
  • Downspout strap: Metal straps which hold the downspout against the wall.
  • Offset: Elbows used to route a downspout around an obstruction on the wall.
  • Downspout diverter: A device to divert water, automatically or manually, between a rainbarrel and downspout.
  • Elbow: Often the bottom of a downspout has an elbow which sends the rain away from the building, either away from the wall or to the side (probably toward the corner of the building).  Often a length of downspout, hinged trough, or other device is used to carry the water further from the building.
  • Splash block: A concrete pad, masonry, or other device on the ground to protect the ground from the force of water falling from a downspout.

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