So my contractor finally finished my building, 40x50x16 2/12 pitch metal roof. I was going to have a seamless 50' gutter put on the one eve side that falls in my yard but we had a heck of a rain last night and no washouts, I planted rye grass two weeks ago. So my question is: is a 50', $600 gutter more hassle than its worth if brand new grass is holding the soil fine?
Gutter or not?
- Thread starter nolanc2
- Start date
iagsxr
Well-known member
Gutters both sides
txvwnut
Well-known member
Gutters, even though you saw nothing from last nights rain over time you will see erosion.
iagsxr
Well-known member
And based on your pics long down spouts.
Trust me it's a lot easier to install them and not think they do much than it is to fix the damage that not having them does.
hayhauler71
Well-known member
Both sides. 10 years down the road you wish you did.
mmack66
Well-known member
Of what?
lakeroadster
Well-known member
Location?
I'm assuming with a 2/12 pitch your not in a high snow load location.
I'd agree with the other fellas... gutters on both sides of the building.
I'm assuming with a 2/12 pitch your not in a high snow load location.
I'd agree with the other fellas... gutters on both sides of the building.
No No no. You guys are supposed to say "you're fine without em, put that $600 on the new toolbox you want".
Louisiana. No, snow isn't an issue.
As far as both sides go I'll save the money, as stated in above post the other side is 1/12 lean to and drops off in the woods.
Louisiana. No, snow isn't an issue.
As far as both sides go I'll save the money, as stated in above post the other side is 1/12 lean to and drops off in the woods.
If you're not going to listen to your fellow members when you ask for advice, why bother asking ?
The membership here are pretty damn smart, there's professional guys, serious DIY'ers and others that are just plain smart. They'll give you the best advice possible, 9 out of 10 times, and some of them will give you the shirt off their back if you appreciate what they're telling you.
I wouldn't make a habit of asking question only to do the complete oppposite of what's recommended if you want advice in the future, your questions will just go unanswered.
There's a reason these guys are telling you to gutter both sides.
Slowgsr
Well-known member
Previous owner - overtime washed out soil caused portions of my floating slab to fail. Pole barn - no footings. Gutters stopped the movement, then I had to replace portions of the slab.
lakeroadster
Well-known member
TerryH
Well-known member
This^^^
I did just the front of my shop when we built it and I totally regret it now. I have rotted siding and door frame on the back from the water splashing. No damage at all on the front that has gutter. Lesson learned. Going to get gutter on the back and fix the damage in the spring.
IMO the only reason not to have gutters is if there are no trees within 50 yards and they are too high to blow out with a leaf blower.
And the soil is well drained sand.
A building that size will collect a lot of water.
Gutters and downspouts give you a way to control it.
And go way oversize with that size of roof.
You want what you can see in the alleyway behind the local supermarket.
(Did you ever notice they always have gutters and downspouts?
Even though they are masonry buildings?)
And the soil is well drained sand.
A building that size will collect a lot of water.
Gutters and downspouts give you a way to control it.
And go way oversize with that size of roof.
You want what you can see in the alleyway behind the local supermarket.
(Did you ever notice they always have gutters and downspouts?
Even though they are masonry buildings?)
First off, Mr Super Moderator, I never asked about both sides, and the toolbox comment was obviously a joke. I apriciate the comments and will most likely follow the advice of the nice folks who took the time to offer there experience/knowledge that a gutter on the ONE eve side in my yard is a good idea. The entire building is metal so the only thing a gutter will protect is the ground. I see no point in protecting the woods 20' away from my building, nor did I ask. Here's a photo of the lean to.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Attachments
iagsxr
Well-known member
A. I wouldn't build a building without overhangs. I don't know your climate. Maybe that works where you live.
B. If I did have a building without overhangs gutters wouldn't even be optional. They'd be on before the builders left.
C. In my younger days I cost myself a fair amount of money by not listening to the guys who told me to keep up on the gutter/downspout maintenance on my rentals.
Whatever, there will be a time when you realize we're right. May take some time depending on your climate and soil composition but it will happen. And cost more than the price of gutters.
B. If I did have a building without overhangs gutters wouldn't even be optional. They'd be on before the builders left.
C. In my younger days I cost myself a fair amount of money by not listening to the guys who told me to keep up on the gutter/downspout maintenance on my rentals.
Whatever, there will be a time when you realize we're right. May take some time depending on your climate and soil composition but it will happen. And cost more than the price of gutters.
iagsxr
Well-known member
Won't take long
Gutters over any doors or other places you might be standing around (unless said places are gables). Other than that, your call.
With that height, you might be better off laying down a strip of 1-2" crushed rock to prevent erosion. make it flat, inset so it's flush with the ground so you can mow over it.
Leaves will get into it, and you'll still have to deal with the runoff somehow. Drywell works.
With that height, you might be better off laying down a strip of 1-2" crushed rock to prevent erosion. make it flat, inset so it's flush with the ground so you can mow over it.
Leaves will get into it, and you'll still have to deal with the runoff somehow. Drywell works.
James-W
Well-known member
Gutters are, in some ways at least, a double edged sword. Gutters work GREAT for directing the water where you want it to go so that it does not cause any problems for you. But the gutters tend to collect small twigs and leaves in the Fall and then you have to clean them out or the twigs and leaves will plug up the gutters and you will get spillage all along the gutter. Then too, the potential is there for ice dams, but if the roof and the gutters were done correctly it should not pose a HUGE problem.
All in all, gutters and downspouts are really good to have, just be aware that if you have trees around the building there can be some routine maintenance involved in keeping the gutters working smoothly. If the gutters are on a rather tall building, you will need a way to get to them in order to effectively clean them, or have some other way of cleaning them out.
All in all, gutters and downspouts are really good to have, just be aware that if you have trees around the building there can be some routine maintenance involved in keeping the gutters working smoothly. If the gutters are on a rather tall building, you will need a way to get to them in order to effectively clean them, or have some other way of cleaning them out.
Rfbob, that's my concern, not being able to maintain the gutter due to height. I have given considerable thought to putting a load of driveway sized limestone starting at the building and going about 15' out from the eve the full 50' length.
iagsxr
Well-known member
Water in your building?
They make extendable wands that go on pressure washer handles or make a thing yourself out of pvc with two 90s forming an upside-down U to go on a garden hose.
They make extendable wands that go on pressure washer handles or make a thing yourself out of pvc with two 90s forming an upside-down U to go on a garden hose.
iagsxr
Well-known member
Like from a pipe to hook your pressure washer/garden hose to.
I don't have leaf guards on my house because there's a walnut tree in my yard. Not at my shop because the neighbors have a bunch of maples. The spinners are small enough to get in.
Depends on your neighboring trees how good the guards work. You still need to be able to wash out the mud that will likely collect from airborne dust.
I don't have leaf guards on my house because there's a walnut tree in my yard. Not at my shop because the neighbors have a bunch of maples. The spinners are small enough to get in.
Depends on your neighboring trees how good the guards work. You still need to be able to wash out the mud that will likely collect from airborne dust.
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Revin
Well-known member
How about a rain water collection system? As in Texas we have long droughts in the summer and a little bit of extra water for grass, plants, or garden comes in mighty handy.
Yes, your shop will displace lots of water! Think about a 1200 gal or better tank. So easy to set up.
Also when the gutters go up add some "gutter guard" to them.( found at home depot for cheap)
Yes, your shop will displace lots of water! Think about a 1200 gal or better tank. So easy to set up.
Also when the gutters go up add some "gutter guard" to them.( found at home depot for cheap)
PhantomEB
Well-known member
Exactly what I was thinking! Too high to clean out? Maybe you should invest in ONE ladder and ask your wife to go up there once every fall? Rainwater collection is great for all that plus she always has a clean vehicle!
lakeroadster
Well-known member
Nice shop. 
I'd still put a gutter on the lean-to side to keep mud from splashing up on the RV, and to control soil erosion.
I'd still put a gutter on the lean-to side to keep mud from splashing up on the RV, and to control soil erosion.
dutchgray
Well-known member
Over here you wouldn't even think about not having gutters, almost everything has them, even tiny 6' by 4' sheds. Put gutters on.
It would actually cost more money but what do you guys think of bordering off everything say 15' away from the base of the building and doing limestone. No gutter to maintain and would eliminate a 15,x50, section that i want have to mow. the last 20' is to steep for a riding mower. My main entrance door is also on that side so it would stop tracking in all that red dirt.
Elginz
Well-known member
Gutters are also there to protect the foundation, be it concrete footings, or post. Take all that water and dump it next to the "foundation" or move it out away 10 feet with gutters and down spouts . Similar to filling a paper bag with dry dirt, and packing it with your fist, now add water and do it again. The bag bulges, and your fist sinks.