Adventures with Downspouts

Only after buying the Cross House did I become aware of the VITAL importance of good gutters and downspouts on a big old house.

When I purchased the house it had but a single remaining downspout. Most of the gutters were filled with debris so water was just cascading over and, ominously, behind the gutters.

As the years have passed, and as I ever more become intimately acquainted with the house, I have recognized the value of gutters and downspouts. For, almost all the damage I have encountered is the result of lack of one or of both.

Today, I am fixated on gutters and downspouts.

 

When I purchased the house. Try and find any downpouts.

 

I put back the missing downspout on the second floor (to the left side of the octagon tower) and put back three downspouts on the porch. See the one in the middle? It didn’t reach the ground, and I could not find 3-inch round spout anywhere. But it was at least doing its job.

 

But I found more 3-inch round spouts!!!!!!! I plan to paint it tomorrow.

 

The downspout on the north porch was the only original spout extant. It was a silly 2-inches wide, and had lost its lower portion decades ago, causing a lot of damage to all the wood where it stopped short. I cobbled together bits and pieces to at least stop the damage.

 

Not being able to find 2-inch spout anywhere, I replaced the whole with 3-inch, carefully scribed to fit the curved cornice. I have stored the original spout in the basement Aladdin’s Cave.

 

 

 

 

8 Comments

  1. Tony Bianchini on November 7, 2017 at 7:53 pm

    I never thought I’d think of down spouts as sexy – but that final image has me thinking that way.

    • Ross on November 8, 2017 at 8:21 am

      You are a little strange.

      But I like that in a man.

  2. Stewart McLean on November 8, 2017 at 12:39 pm

    Are you planning to cut off the crimped end where the water comes out? I think that a plain end would be more in keeping with the house.

  3. Meike B. on November 8, 2017 at 4:18 pm

    Oh, that chandelier lurking glorious through the window!
    Do you want to bend the downspout towards the house like the old one?
    (I will never understand why it seemes not usual to let the downspouts end in the public sewage system to prevent damp in the cellar and foundation. I looked up the climate diagramm, you have a lot of rain.)
    Greetings from Germany.
    (Besides: Our Thanksgiving was on October 1st!)

  4. Kevin K. on November 8, 2017 at 6:33 pm

    Hi Ross. Long time reader here, I love what you have done for the house and enjoy reading about it. Try here. They have 2 inch round downspouts. Might be worth a try.

  5. Connie in Hartwood on November 11, 2017 at 7:50 am

    When I was a Board member of our local chapter of ReBuilding Together, it was my responsibility to inspect applicant houses to determine the scope of work. Almost every house had a shockingly severe amount of water damage, either from roof leaks, supply-line drips, or missing/faulty gutters and downspouts.

    Our old house had inadequate replacement gutters and downspouts when we took possession, huge roof areas draining into a standard K-style gutter with undersized downspouts. Now, we have 6″ half-round gutters and corresponding 6″ downspouts … this makes me think, are 3″ downspouts adequate to drain your gutters and prevent overflow?

  6. Seth Hoffman on November 21, 2017 at 10:45 pm

    It is unfortunate how often gutters and downspouts are neglected and cause major and entirely unnecessary damage. Good to see you are on the right side of things 🙂

    Your small downspouts are going to be more prone to clogs and blockages from leaves and other debris. Probably a good idea to set yourself a reminder for periodic inspection and cleaning to keep things flowing freely.

  7. Christine on April 29, 2018 at 8:46 am

    Ross, Are you looking for more 3 inch down spouts/guttering? I saw some today listed in my local Facebook marketplace (Fort Wayne, IN) I would be happy to go get it for you for a summer special delivery.

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