Every trade has its specialized terms which can mystify anyone outside the business. Here are eight essential examples of gutter terminology you need to know to ensure your Cincinnati-area home is protected from water leaks, wet foundations, and ruined landscaping.
Downspout
The vertical tube attached to your home’s exterior links the horizontal gutters with your yard. Downspouts funnel water away from your foundation, emptying into French drains or ground-level splash blocks.
End Cap
Seamless gutters can be run to any reasonable length and then have their ends capped with end caps. These vertical metal plates match the horizontal gutter in paint finish and style. They are crimped into place and then sealed to prevent leaks.
Fascia
Call it fascia or soffit board; this is the vertical piece capping your roof’s rafter ends. The gutters themselves attach to fascia strips. Overflowing gutters will saturate and rot your fascia, risking water infiltration into your attic.
Gauge
Metal thickness is measured by gauge, in thousandths of an inch. The lower the number, the thinner the metal. So, a gutter built from 0.027 gauge aluminum is thicker than 0.025. The difference? The 0.025 is sold in big-box home improvement stores for do-it-yourselfers. The thicker 0.027 Industry standard) or 0.032 (heavy duty) is more durable.
Gutters
The near-horizontal metal troughs along your house are your gutters. They whisk water away as it runs off the roof, carrying it to downspouts and out into your yard.
Hangers
Gutters attach to your home’s fascia with metal hangers. These sturdy bits of hardware are anchored to the fascia with long screws for added strength. Some cradle the gutter; others attach invisibly across the top.
Pitch
Every roof has a pitch, or angle to it, so rainwater can run off. Gutters have a pitch, too, so the roof’s runoff can run off the gutter. Typically, your gutters pitch ½-inch every 10 feet. This ensures quick drainage.
Ice Dams
When escaping heat melts snow on your roof, it refreezes at the roof’s lower edge, creating ice dams. These can back up and send water into your sheathing and between interior and exterior walls.
The one gutter term you need to know? Titan Siding & Roofing. Contact us today and leave behind all your worries about your Cincinnatti-area home’s gutters. We perform flawless gutter installations as the final step in your roof’s integrated system.
