Downspouts in Portland Oregon
Downspouts carry water from the gutters to the drains.
Downspouts Styles
There are two basic shapes to downspouts: rectangular and round.
Rectangular Downspouts
There are two flavors of rectangular downspouts: corrugated and "square". Corrugated downspouts have ridges that run lengthwise and are slightly larger than their "square" counterparts. Square downspouts have flat sides and are less ridged. Since they are not as strong structurally, they are usually made out of steel. Corrugated downspouts are often made from aluminum and steel.
Downspout Accessories
Downspouts attach to the gutter above through an outlet. Downspouts usually go straight down, but sometimes need to bend. Prefabricated parts include elbows (A and B style), funnels, square to round adapters and drain adapters.
This aluminum corrugated rectangular downspout is connected to a round ground drain (pipe) by a downspout adapter.
Downspout to Drain Adapters
The downspout to drain adapter is important. If not done correctly, then the water collected from the roof can be dumped right next to the foundation. This can cause foundation rot or flood the basement during a heavy rain. If the right adapter is installed correctly, then it is worry-free.
There are also steel downspout to drain adapters, commonly referred to as "square to round" because they convert square pipe to round. It seems many gutter installers are not aware of this technology and instead try to force the rectangular downspouts into round pipes. This usually results in a constricted downspout that clogs.
Another advantage (besides not causing clogs) of the downspout adapters is that they provide a good interface from the downspout to the drain. Since the downspouts are secured to the house with a metal strap, and since drains are fixed in place with the earth around them, the downspout adapter is able to interface the two since it can slide partway up the downspout. This means that it can be removed (if installed properly) if you need to access the ground drain. This is also handy when the earth around the house shifts and causes the ground drain to move. The downspout adapter helps keep the interface flexible. |