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Q I recently moved into a split-level home and noticed a lot of rain runoff on several inside corners of the roof. I climbed onto the roof and found the high gutter full of water with nowhere to drain. Did the builder goof?
Timothy Williams, Port Washington, MD
A Yep. The gutter should have a downspout. The overflow will not only splash up against the siding but also wear away the granule layer on the shingles below and cause them to fail prematurely. It also encourages moss and algae growth, which looks bad.
To remedy the situation, first consider where you want to route the water. Ideally, you could attach the downspout near the outer end of the gutter and drain the water straight down to the ground. But that might not work in your situation because it looks as though you have a front door and perhaps a garage near that spot. You don’t want to direct the runoff across a walk or down a driveway or trap it against the house. As an alternative, you could position the downspout directly over the lower gutter and route the water from the high gutter into it.
In either case, working on a gutter that’s two stories up is difficult and can be dangerous. I’d suggest that you call in a pro to do the work.
Do you have a mystery challenge around your house or property?
Send a photo with a detailed description to “Ask The Family Handyman,” 2915 Commers Drive, Suite 700, Eagan, MN 55121. Include your name, address and phone number. We welcome other questions as well.
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