Downspouts & Extensions

Sizing and placement

Standard 2×3 downspouts work for small roof areas. 3×4 is the right call for larger roofs or homes in heavy oak and maple cover, where the higher debris volume needs the larger throat. We add an extra downspout when a single run is overworked, not just because it’s another line on the quote. Where the original installer put one at every corner whether the math supported it or not, we’ll tell you which to keep and which to remove.

Extensions we install

Splash blocks for short runs into open lawn. Buried 4” drain tile to a daylight outlet on lots where the slope favors it. Pop up emitters in landscaping where a daylight outlet won’t work. Hinged swing up extensions for driveways and walkways that need to stay clear. We pick by site and slope, not by what’s cheapest for us to install. The right answer for a lakefront ranch is different than a two story set back from the water.

Why this matters here

Lakefront homes around Geneva, Williams Bay, and Fontana sit on high water tables, and their basements flood when downspouts dump too close to the foundation. Most “wet basement” problems start at the gutter line, not the foundation crack. Extending downspouts is usually far cheaper than waterproofing from the inside. We see this every spring. If your basement gets wet, ask about the downspouts before you call a waterproofing company.