If you've lived in Tallahassee for a while, you know we get some pretty intense rainstorms from time to time. When it rains hard in Tallahassee, a steep roof can work against your gutters. Water moves faster down a steep pitch, and when it reaches the roof edge, it can shoot straight past your gutter instead of falling into it. That overflow lands exactly where you don't want it: against your siding, in your landscaping, and perhaps worst of all, around your foundation.
Many homeowners with this issue don't realize there is a simple solution. Splash guards are an effective, easy way to keep that water moving where it belongs: into and through your gutter system. Here's how they work and why every steep-roofed home in Tallahassee and elsewhere should have them.
On a roof with a gentle slope, water flows slowly enough to drop off the edge into the gutter. As a roof's pitch increases, water flows faster. The sharper the pitch, the more speed the water picks up on the way down. The faster the water flows, the more likely it is to overshoot the edge, and in some cases, miss the gutter entirely.
The problem is worse where two roof slopes meet, such as at inside corners and valleys. Water from both slopes rushes together into one channel in these spaces. During a heavy downpour, that concentrated rush of water can spill over the gutter in a hurry. Even a brand-new, perfectly sized gutter can overflow in these spots. This isn’t a sign that the gutter is clogged or too small. The water is simply moving too fast to land where you want it to.
A splash guard is a simple solution to the issue of water overshooting your gutter. It's a small piece of metal attached to the outer edge at the places where water is most likely to overflow. When fast-moving water hits it, the guard stops the water, redirecting it down into the gutter. From there, it flows to the downspout the way it should.
Splash guards are only installed in places that need them, so they are barely noticeable from the ground. They match your gutters and blend into the roofline.
These two solutions sound similar, but they have different jobs to do in relation to your gutter system. Splash guards sit along the edge of the gutter and prevent water from spilling over during heavy rain. Splash blocks sit on the ground under your downspouts. They help direct water away from your foundation. Both protect your home from water damage, and many homes benefit from both.
You may need splash guards if you notice:
If you notice any of these, it doesn’t mean that your gutters aren’t functioning as they should. They may be working fine, but still losing water at the corners where it flows fastest. Splash guards solve this.
At Capital City Gutter, we take our job of protecting your home very seriously. That's why we include splash guards at no charge with every gutter we install. We believe that your gutter system should do its job, even in the heaviest rainfall. Splash guards are one of the simplest ways to make sure that happens.
Want to learn more about protecting your gutters? Read our guides on the best gutter guards for North Florida homes and whether 7-inch gutters are worth it for Florida homes.
If your gutters overflow during heavy rain, or you're planning a new installation for a steep roof, Capital City Gutter can help. Give us a call or text us at (850) 591-2210 for a free quote, or contact us online.
