Gutter solution anyone?

[Zaxxn]

Hello all!

I figured this might be a good spot to ask this question.
I am getting to the point in my build (https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=389170) where I need to contemplate things like roofing, gutters and so on. For some more headroom in my upstairs storage room above the part connecting to the house I changed the plan for a regular roof to a shed style roof. Now I need to figure something out for a gutter where the side of the shed roof meets the main roof of the house. How would I make sure that the water "goes somewhere" where it can be directed into a downspout, gutter, etc.? So far I was thinking about a box gutter at the base of the side of the shed roof, but that would require me to get lower than the main roof and I obviously can't just cut a piece out of the rafters for the main roof to do that. I attached some renderings to hopefully illustrate what I mean. Any ideas, anyone?

Thanks already in advance! Really appreciate the help!
--Zax

 

[meboatermike]

I have seen a couple situations sort of like this (dealing with the "house that Jack built", five additions etc.). My situation with a roof dumping against a sidewall was not planned (I think that is what I am seeing). But planned or not the only real solution that I know of is to extend the shed roof to the right until it hits against the regular roof that hits against the sidewall (forming a valley) as you look from the ground on the low side of the shed roof.

I am sure that is not the solution that you want to hear however anything else I think will eventually leak where the roof and the wall meet. A valley done correctly will work.

 

[Chris705]

Two options I see. As already pointed out, extend new shed roof to right so it intersects the existing gabled roof. Or you can add a cricket, another gabled roof on top of your existing gable. To do this you measure the length of the wall along where the existing gabled roof meets the new shed sidewall. Divide in half and at this point you would have a ridge parallel to the existing ridge creating new valley’s down to the front and rear of the new shed roof.

 

[Radix2]

And don't assume anything is going to "flow" in these gutters all the time - you have winter in CT and Germany ...

You need a path to flow when they are all packed up with ice and not into your building.

 

[Zaxxn]

Thanks everyone for the input so far. Originally a regular gable roof was planned, with a cricket to the main roof with a new valley on each side. Would have been perfect. If not the issue would have been that I would have really had no wall space for shelving taller than around 5'. But it would have looked a lot more appealing from the outside, and the gutter situation wouldn't have been an issue.

This new solution gives me the shelving space I need, headroom and all, but the problem is the gutter. Even extending it and creating a new valley with something like a one sided cricket roof will be quite challenging since the shed roof extends out past the existing roof of the house and the angles will look all kinds of weird. I mean, it's somehow a bit "weird" already with the shed roof, however, it matches the overall contemporary layout and such at least.

Good input on the winter issue, Radix2! This is in CT, and yes, definitely winters and well aware that I'd have to deal with roof/gutter heat in an area like that. Actually have some of it installed on the house too.

I keep thinking of something like a heated valley sloping towards the driveway side with a "collector" and downspout at the end. Definitely with wide flashing and sealed well.

Thanks for all the input so far - very much appreciated!

--Zax

 

[tthornto]

Thats not a gutter problem its a roof problem, fix the roofline. All that extra storage space is useless if you have a leaks all over and your stuff all gets wet.

 

[Dr Klaun]

Ditto tthornto's comment. You have the tail wagging the dog here. Building to roof to fit correctly with valleys, etc. There's always solutions for storage. The sloped roof into a wall (with a full cricket) will leak. Even on big commercial projects where full membrane roofs are used this is a constant maintenance headache.

 

[kbs2244]

Looking "weird" is in the past.
Build the cricket and use flashing like mad.
Go way oversize in the gutters and down spouts.

Paint the gutters and down spouts black.
You will be amazed what the heat of the sun can do to stop freezing.

 

[Zaxxn]

Again, thanks for all the input! So, a cricket it is, trying to make it look as decent as possible by adjusting height, etc.

As for getting the water to the ground from the corner where the valley of the cricket meets the end of the existing house roof, I am thinking of installing either a conductor head with a downspout, or a short length of gutter around the corner to the main gutter, as long as I can make the pitch work. Not sure yet. I've done a lot of things in my life, but gutters isn't one of them! Better get back to building walls, trusses are being built as we speak...

Thanks again,
Zax

 

[kbs2244]

The purpose of gutters is to keep the water off the ground and route it to down spouts that can route it away from the building.

That is a lot of roof that will collect a lot of water.
Get way over sized gutters and custom made down spouts.
Take a drive behind your local strip mall to see the size they use.

 

[Zaxxn]

Good input, kbs2244! I was looking at different type gutters, and I think I will go with a 6" commercial type gutter. Found egutters.com that had many types of gutters and all accessories at seemingly reasonable prices...