HPRifleman
Member Emeritus
I'm curious what the opinions are on installing gutters on a garage. Positioning downspouts for my garage may prove a challenge so I want to know if you guys added them to your builds.
Gutters on a Garage?
- Thread starter HPRifleman
- Start date
Jeff Ivers
Well-known member
Both my shop and my barn have gutters. Would not have a building without them.
65ranchero
Well-known member
The house and both garages have them ( installed after we bought the current house)
steaks&anvils
Well-known member
Yes. Bigger is better too. Always a good idea to move water away from buildings.
sick467
Well-known member
I have a 50 by 60 roof with 3 garage doors on one side and one on the opposite. These sides are where my gutters are. I would not have it any other way. I would not have had to worry too much about the water shedding away from the building, but it sure is nice to have the doors open while it's muggy hot and raining without all the splash back coming in the garage. Muggy hot, raining, & windy is a different story...lol. Without gutters, I would be dragging the gravel back regularly where the water shed off the roof would wash it out.
I suggest having a gutter-company look at your downspout challenges and go from there...gutters are very important in my way of thinking and dealing with the downspouts and possible underground drain pipes will be much easier and cheaper to deal with during construction compared to after.
I suggest having a gutter-company look at your downspout challenges and go from there...gutters are very important in my way of thinking and dealing with the downspouts and possible underground drain pipes will be much easier and cheaper to deal with during construction compared to after.
niget2002
Well-known member
House and shop both have gutters. They run to a french drain system that dumps out into the drainage field behind our house.
TractorJeff
Well-known member
I thought not at least right away.
BIG MISTAKE! Now there is no longer a build budget.
I put one over the Entrance Door for now, because when stop to open the Door, you get soaked!
I know a guy who knows a guy that does seamless gutters and will be talking to him about installing, probably this year???
BIG MISTAKE! Now there is no longer a build budget.
I put one over the Entrance Door for now, because when stop to open the Door, you get soaked!
I know a guy who knows a guy that does seamless gutters and will be talking to him about installing, probably this year???
jack stand
Well-known member
I'll guess the 60' is the dimension that will (should) be guttered. I'd want at least 3 downspouts for a roof that big. Depending on your pitch, there could easily be 30' to the peak, that's 1800s/f of area to drain from EACH SIDE! Upsize both the gutter and spouting.
Edit, I thought the OP was building a 50x60
Edit, I thought the OP was building a 50x60
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MerlinsBeard
Well-known member
I have a small 10x16 shed with an A frame anchored to a slab and still plan to install gutters both front and back with downspouts on side to connect to buried and graded pvc to drain the water away from the slab. Relative to the building and concrete work costs, gutter and drainage work is cheap mitigation to minimize water issues over the lifetime of the building.
If you don't have the grade to drain water away from your garage, consider a dry well or other drainage system. Installing one depends on how much roof square footage of rain water you're trying to displace.
If you don't have the grade to drain water away from your garage, consider a dry well or other drainage system. Installing one depends on how much roof square footage of rain water you're trying to displace.
TTMotorsports
Well-known member
My 50x80 shop had no gutters and when the first rain storm hit so much water came off the roof it would splash back against the roll up doors and leak under them into the shop. I sold the house/shop but for sure putting rain gutters with 4 down spouts was next on my short list of things to do.
vrinner
Well-known member
My 40X60 has only two at the far end/down hill side of the building. I'm in SoCal and so far no issues. Was going to do 4 but then i'd still need to get all that water from the uphill side of the garage to the down hill side so we just went with huge gutters and downspouts.
rburke65
Well-known member
I could not get a build permit for my shop without ‘gutters and down’ permit! It was the first thing out of their mouth. I had to get it before a Build permit!
Gutters required here including all permanent detached buildings, at least it was 25 years ago when I built my house and garage. I am out in the country, cows across the road, corn behind me, didn't matter as it's a county wide regulation. It is nice not to have water splashing onto the bottom part of the buildings.
iSpark
Well-known member
Yes
matt_i
Well-known member
To reduce cost I found a trim & siding yard which would roll-form the gutter stock for me by the foot.
I bought all of the parts, sealant from them and fitted it all together at home. Think I saved a good $600-800 over the quotes I got.
A mitersaw, fed extremely slowly makes superb precision cuts on gutter stock and downspouts.
I bought all of the parts, sealant from them and fitted it all together at home. Think I saved a good $600-800 over the quotes I got.
A mitersaw, fed extremely slowly makes superb precision cuts on gutter stock and downspouts.
inspector-steve
Member
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2021
- Messages
- 7
all buildings I have built get gutters and extra down spouts
I don't have gutters on my garage as that would have required underground piping to carry the water away from the parking area and that presents it's own set of problems. The only issue I have is sometimes in the winter snow melt from the roof will refreeze and form an ice ridge on the ground in front of the doors. An ice chipper and some salt takes care of it and it doesn't happen too often.
TTTTTT
Well-known member
My 44' gambrel roof line garage i avoided gutters. I live in a very treed area. I have large overhangs. My slope away from the foundation is good. To avoid spashing from rain and melt, I put a generous layer of wood chips. (I chip my own). Also keeps it nice and clean an weed free. I do have a short length over the man door and one bay door. I love the no maintenance aspect . I've taken some off other areas also. The wide and thick layer of chips make the difference. They look great also. I understand most cannot get away with my setup. For me it works 
Joemctag
Well-known member
As to rainwater volume, if you had a 28 x 24, with 1 ft overhangs, that'd be 30 x 26 =780 sq ft. A 1" rain would be 65 cu ft, or about 500 gal, or about 2 1/2 cu yes. Fill up 9 rain barrels.
I've long planned to bury a 1500 gal plastic ag tank to collect rain water from my house roof.
No gutters on our new 24'x40' pole building. We are in a snow area and gutters take a beating. No gutters on the house or 30'x90' old building. I would like to have 40' of gutter on the one side of the new building just to move the water away from that area. The other side drops off, so no worry there.
Anyone have snow/ice proof gutters ??
Anyone have snow/ice proof gutters ??
3 sides of my garage have no gutters, just river rock a foot deep with a 4" tile to carry the water away. The front over hang has gutter to prevent getting dripped on. It was a quick project project and I used 10' section and seamed them together. I'm not worried about the the one seam that leaks, however, it's right in the middle of one of the over head doors.
Lesson learned, I should have started at the other end when hanging it and paid attention to the seam areas.
Lesson learned, I should have started at the other end when hanging it and paid attention to the seam areas.
ybnormal70
Well-known member
Gutters are one of those items that you definitely shop around. I received quotes in the thousands and finally had a small company with the owner of it and 1 employee that came and custom made gutters for my shop. 75' down each side, so 150' of 6" gutters, 4 downspouts approximately 13' all custom made on site for a whopping $750 total.
Kevin
Kevin
Under certain conditions gutters can fill with ice or snow.
When properly attached the weight is not a problem.
If a certain gutter needs to remain free of ice ……..say north side for rain and melt run off…….heat cable can be used.
Pole building metal roof snow guards/stops/stakes are used to stop tons of ice and snow sliding in one mass.
Pole or metal building often do present a challenge for gutters in certain situations depending on eve, facia and over hang construction or lack off eve/overhang.
OP
HPRifleman
Member Emeritus
My problem isn't cost or grading. It's finding a place for the gutters/downspouts to output the water. I have an area where the logical downspout location would be dumping water on the driveway in front of the garage. I see this as problematic, especially in winter.
I'm skeptical of running the downspouts into the ground and moving it to the perimeter via in-ground PVC as that has the potential for getting clogged with leaves, dirt, etc.
I'm skeptical of running the downspouts into the ground and moving it to the perimeter via in-ground PVC as that has the potential for getting clogged with leaves, dirt, etc.
andyvh1959
Well-known member
On my recent 24x28 detached build I've not planned gutters/downspouts, have 12" overhangs all around. I have LOT of trees and their debris; leaves, tassels, oak seeds, little branches, etc. My slab was poured 8" higher than the yard, and I have two rows of 8" block on the slab before the stud walls start. I plan to backfill up against the 8" block with some sort of large gravel/fill 24" out around the garage along with retainer wall block (which I've had in waiting many years), and drain tile in the fill behind the retainer wall block out to the far back yard. On my house I've installed stainless steel mesh gutter guards/filters which install flush under the shingles so there is no ledge for any debris to collect onto and turn into eventual gutter gardens. Use to have the foam gutter filter inserts which are only good for maybe two years tops before they fill up with decomposed debris which eventually become dirt, and more gutter gardens.
SlotlessMan
Well-known member
Yes! 2 foot overhang all around. Sandy soil with good drainage and still used gutters on my detached. Covers as well, I hate cleaning gutters! 
bbxlr8
Well-known member
Just put new 6" gutters on the house and garage and validated that upgrade in the last tropical storm. However, I also discovered my most difficult to reach underground PVC is clogged .
Had them save the old 5" sections to downcycle to my 12x42 shed and chicken coupe. Unfortunately, they are still laying next to my garden as other emergencies moved to the top of the "must-do" list. Still getting a shower going in & out !
. Had them save the old 5" sections to downcycle to my 12x42 shed and chicken coupe. Unfortunately, they are still laying next to my garden as other emergencies moved to the top of the "must-do" list. Still getting a shower going in & out !
Bretny
Well-known member
On a metal roof? I would like to know too. I have been told the key is snow brakes but I have also seen them ripped off along with the gutters.
steaks&anvils
Well-known member
Where, without gutters/downspouts, will the roof run off water go now? Will it magically disappear?
I had a garage with no gutters, the splash back made the siding look awful. The perimeter grade and landscape always needed to be cared for. No matter what I had alone the perimeter of the drip line, it inevitably formed a groove where the water came off the roof. Then in big storms it would puddle and sometimes seep into the garage. It was a 1950s era detached, sill on slab garage, we all work with what we have.
Not sure if it's the correct term, but try looking into scuppers. They are a box filter on the down spout. They will filter out a majority of the spouting debris.
OP
HPRifleman
Member Emeritus
For visuals, you can see elevations and pictures in the build thread.
The back of the garage would be a very simple gutter. That's no problem. It's the front face that's more of a challenge. There is a roof that links the garage to the house on the left side. The right side will have a paved area on that side of the garage. All that limits where downspouts can get rid of the water without causing problems elsewhere.
The back of the garage would be a very simple gutter. That's no problem. It's the front face that's more of a challenge. There is a roof that links the garage to the house on the left side. The right side will have a paved area on that side of the garage. All that limits where downspouts can get rid of the water without causing problems elsewhere.
PhantomEB
Well-known member
Huge on water diversion, even more on collection!
firebirdparts
Well-known member
It’s primarily a location thing. Around here we use them.
Badgerstate
Well-known member
I wish that my garage had them. Every time I try to go in or out of my garage when its raining, I get dripped on because theres no gutters. Im seriously looking at installing them in the near future.
Mikeske
Well-known member
No way I go without the gutters and downspouts. Yes both my home and shop have them.
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rburke65
Well-known member
I have a 32x56’, with 8/12 metal roof....a gutter guy that was recommended to me said if the snow n ice ever takes them off, he would replace them free of charge. He set the gutters just below the angle of the roof. Shop has been up for 9 winters...no problems