How To Calculate The Distance From The Gutters To The Facade?

When installing gutters in a building, whether residential or not, certain decisions must be made regarding aesthetics, quality, materials and the type of installation. Some of them correspond to the client, others can be taken jointly and there are others that can only be taken by a qualified technician like All About Gutters Inc. One of the latter is the distance between the gutters and the facade, which depends on various circumstances.

What does the necessary distance between the gutters and the wall depend on?

This is one of the first calculations that must be made when designing storm water drainage and there is no fixed data : to know the optimal distance, the installer must take into account different variables.

First of all, the type of construction in which the installation is going to be carried out.

Second, what type of roof does the building have?

Third, whether or not there are cornices, a circumstance that can help or hinder the installation of gutters.

Can an individual calculate for himself the most suitable distance between his rainwater system and the facade of his house? Our answer is resounding: qualified professionals with experience must make any technical decision about the installation, since it affects many more factors, in addition to aesthetics.

Installation of gutters with and without cornice

The cornice, eaves or overhang is the part of the roof that protrudes over the facade, offering it a certain "protection" against rainwater and preventing, in part, the drops from slipping directly on the exterior wall of the house. Does this mean that a building with a cornice can do without the gutter system? Nothing could be further from the truth: the eaves only serve as protection in light rains, so it must always be complemented with an effective rainwater evacuation installation.

Distance between the gutter and the facade in houses with a cornice

Even before calculating the distance, the type of gutter to install must be chosen correctly, which must adapt perfectly to the shape of the eaves so that it fulfills its function: in this case, aluminum gutters without joints, which are manufactured directly on site according to the needs of the client, they are undoubtedly the best option.

 

However, there is no correct distance to carry out the installation, but rather it depends directly on how much the cornice with respect to the facade: the gutter is placed with hooks directly on the tiles , since if it were closer to the facade, below the cornice, it would not be able to collect the water and would not perform its function. As far as the end of the eave is concerned, convention says that the gutter should go between 2 cm and 5 cm below it.

Gutter distance in buildings without cornice

Generally, even if the building does not have a cornice, it is common for the tiles to protrude a few centimeters above the facade, to create a drip effect and prevent water from slipping directly down it. Based on this, we can assess the placement of the gutter with hooks, following the same indications as in the case that there is a cornice, or the installation of supports directly to the wall.

If we decide on the last option, it is important to note that the water will be collected correctly, since the pipe will be practically attached to the wall.

How is the distance calculated on straight facades?

It is common, in certain areas of Spain with low rainfall, to find completely straight facades, in which there is no type of projection or overhang that offers us alternatives. In these cases, the installation must be done directly to the wall with the appropriate supports; although the most common, especially in the case of modern constructions, is that a system has been provided that channels the water directly from the roof.

In these cases it is especially important that the calculation of the system (installation, supports, slopes, diameters...) be carried out by a qualified and experienced technician, to ensure that rainwater is collected and channeled correctly, avoiding causing damage to the facade and other parts of the building.