Gutters and downspouts color matched to siding color.

2015 Spring Parade · More Info

Bronze/brown gutters and off-white downspouts

Grand View · More Info

Color matched. Downspout running to the left of the column and not in front.

Heitmeyer Reserve · More Info

The downspouts should be the same color as the columns.

There are black downspouts elsewhere on the house so leave these black. NO mixed colors.

Why not wrap like this around to the outsides of the posts? This example would need another connector so the downspouts are vertical.

At foundation level would be reworked as well.

T

That may work because I’d like to have them go back towards the house.

Not all the way to the house, to the side of the post is fine, and the front of the posts will look good.

To go back to the house would look odd like the sample photo I posted. It was not my intention to have those diagonal downspouts to the house and back. I was just showing the wrap.

Here is a very rough visual...looks great.

Thank you… I think I’ll try that. If it doesn’t work, I can always paint them .

Eliminate the gutters and downspouts.

Do NOT have different color porch downspouts from the rest of the house.

I don't see how wrapping the downspouts could not be done.

Joseph, how?

Like Joe said, you can skip gutters/downspouts in that one area. Choose looks over function (how much rain do you get in your area?). I did that in my previous house and didn't put any gutters over the garage doors as the downspouts would have been very prominent on the front facing garages.

I live in FL, with lots of rain and plenty of houses in the area have no gutters at all.

You can also enter through the garage!

During a major rain storm I also leave the garage door open for casual guests. Bigger entry to come through with umbrellas and a place to leave them and shake off the water.

Eliminate the gutters and downspouts like Joe said. They are usually more trouble than they are worth. Just make sure there is a way to keep the water diverted from the house.

With downspouts on the sides of the posts, to the eye it looks fine, it registers as the side of the house... the front facade is still open. People are used to seeing downspouts to one side even if visible.

Might try to get them to move to side of posts. I would love to not have any at all, but we get lots of rain. And the roof above will pour onto this roof. Sucks.

Just get 2 rain chains for the downspouts- I prefer the copper but they come in a variety of shapes and materials. Rainchains.com

Do you think they’d be strong enough? He’s got the top roof pouring onto this smaller roof.

Yes… I have a similar situation… you can get a bowl for the bottom to have them hook into so they don’t blow around.

All that rainwater that is going to flow down from the ridge to the front of the home? (plus one side of each gable)? i would not skip guttering there -

If it were me, I would get an independent gutter company out there - do some research and get a good one. Painting them white would go a long way (but I don’t understand the “look at my gutters” trend if they are not copper) and they might be able to shift them so they don’t run down the face of the column -

you can calculate whether that gutter can handle the roof rain load, there are formulas out there - moving to an oversized gutter could help

i will also suggest that there is nothing else to look at - once landscaping it in, your eye won’t go straight to the gutters

Lala girl, Yes, and we get heavy downpours. I could try copper but still, then you are looking at the gutter as a focal point and not the beautiful columns. Such a shame. May try a railn chain on that one end that has the matching column with no gutter, and see if they can move the one on the other end. I’m worried about leaving them black and moving to side, as that might crowd the windows.

" That may work because I’d like to have them go back towards the house. "

Not if you get a lot of rain, and you already mentioned you do. Bad idea, have it directed AWAY from the house, always.

"Joseph, how?"

Click on my previous comment, please.

Either change to white to match the columns or see if they can be snaked around to the side of the columns.

Make the gutters white (like the fascia on everything) and the downspouts white

Thank your for your response. It looks like the downspouts go into the ground?. Are there underground drainpipes? I"ve mention them in my comments but am unclear... could you please describe where they direct the water..

• French drain
• Underground pipes
• Directly onto the surface

No they don’t go in the ground. Just down to the ground. I don’t think he’s planning on putting any type of hose to route them further out like my last builder. I’ve thought about a French drain too but I’m going to try to get him to put the gutters on the side of the columns and if I still don’t like them, I’ll have to figure something out on my own after I move in.

TBH black downspouts everywhere else but with white for the front porch would look like a botched job IMO.

Copper gutters/spouts for the front porch would at least be a design statement if you don't like the black.

With no drainpipes in place, you are not restricted...a rainchain is the best solution to open up the posts.

A 'dry' creekbed of rock will direct water flow and can work in a landscape.

Paint or change out to white and you won't even notice them. I'd be more concerned about making sure they drain away from the house.

Keeping the gutter hole and "wrapping" around the post would be a hack solution for this level of house and all the money you put in it. Rain chains, regardless of their positive aura with people, do not actually work well for anything beyond a light rain. Eliminating gutters altogether can cause other serious issues. And tying downspouts into french drains is about the worst thing you could do.

If this was not shown on drawings, discussed or spec'd, then it will cost to change them correctly and thoughtfully, chalk it up to learning experience. That means another gutter with new downspout locations that line up with the side of the column (don't just patch the hole). You also need a gutter and downspout on the dormer because that is a lot of water cascading down. Then, downspouts should have either a leader or connected to solid underground piping that discharges them 10' away. Color is your choice, but consider matching siding as recommended from those who know a thing or two about design.

Sorry to be a bit sharp in my response, when you have 45 comments, you are bound to get some poor ones, and when I see an OP following those instead of the reasonable ones from those who have experience, it is frustrating.

I’m not upset by your comment. It’s 100% spot on. I was going to ask him to replace the gutter with new holes further down where they could then put the downspouts on the side. I don’t think he’s planning to add gutters, so that part is upsetting..No matter how much you trust someone, there’s always risk. I will have to come up with extra money, I already know this. But I have an estimate lined up with my own gutter pros that used to put gutters on my flip houses. Will get a few more opinions. You are very knowledgeable, and thank you so much.

NO ONE HAS SEEMED TO NOTICE THE OTHER BLACK DOWNSPOUTS.

They did something similar to be. I put them on the side of the columns. However, my trim was white as were the downspouts or gutter

Yes, we have all noticed the other black downspouts, so when I say paint the downspouts the same color as the house, I mean all of them. I'm sure black vertical stripes were not part of the original design/look of the house!

To be fair, black or copper, some contrast is not uncommon nowadays. I like the look and "rules" are meant to be broken as they say.

Here are my two suggestions sketched out, hope this helps.

I like the articulation...adds interest.

The gutter guy may have another way to wrap or a whole other solution. I know it will turn out great. You have a beautiful house.

Thank you, I am going to try to get him to do this. If I don’t like it I can paint all the gutters later. If he won’t do it, I’ll hire my own contractor.

We live in Vancouver so have tons of rain. Our downspouts all lead to exterior Delia fare which goes to a rockpit in back of house and then out a pipe. If yours just drains to ground won’t it saturate it and create puddles? I can’t imagine not having the downspouts though with all the rain we get. It’s very needed. All of ours are in discreet spots and the colour of our siding.

Sorry that should say to exterior drainage, not what I wrote!

Was wondering what Delia Fare was! Haha
Usually add underground hoses that come out away from house. It doesn’t rain all the time. Just when it does rain it’s pretty hard. I lived in Colorado and it never rains there! Must be beautiful up there!!

Delia Fare is a French chanteuse.

The downspouts need not be routed to the front of the foundation...updated sketch.

Have the hose or extension direct water into the dry creekbed as proposed.

It was just a typo…

Yes we know but typos can be funny, esp. autocorrect. Nothing personal.

Well said! Yes, it definitely ruins the design and grandness of the columns. He’s going to try down the side, and if that doesn’t work I’ll get white. But at least the front of all 3 columns will be consistent. I’ll post photos after it’s completed. Thanks yo everyone for taking the time to comment!!!

Keep in mind the pipe should have no sharp elbows to discourage leaves from clogging it.

No one but you knows your drainage potential, grade of property, need for water mitigation. To risk the look of gutters over preventing water from getting in your home is not a reasonable request. ALWAYS care more about where the water is going vs the look. White downspouts with black other places is a minor point vs water in your home!!! Any curve in the gutter is going to collect debris from trees/shingles if you had them. Get advice on keeping your home water free. White downspouts is your safest option.

@arcy_gw I’m so with you on this. Keeping my house water free trumps all.

I know the gutter guy came yesterday and said will move the downspouts to the side. I am so glad and I just know you will be happy.

Regarding water flow. many have solved this with the dry rock creekbed. Water flows downhill, so when a shallow ditch is dug out, ground water will naturally flow into it and follow its path away from the house.

The downspout water will also feed into it directly with extension or splashblock.

The rock will prevent erosion and a liner may be used under the rock to prevent water from seeping into the ground.

Here's mine. My eye doesn't focus on the gutters when look at the front of it. The drainage pope runs under the ground and empties in the woods.

If you run flexible hose underground make sure you know exactly where it is when you go to plant so you don't slice into them and spring a leak. I speak from experience .