Gutters sized for Texas downpours

Why gutters matter for Central Texas foundations

Most homes in our area sit on slab foundations over expansive clay and caliche soils. When a storm dumps water in one spot along the house, the soil swells there while the rest stays dry, and that uneven movement is a common cause of cracked slabs, sticking doors and drywall cracks.

Gutters collect roof water and move it where you want it. A correct system carries it several feet from the foundation, or into a drain line, so the soil around the house stays at a steadier moisture level through the year. That makes gutters one of the least expensive ways to protect the most expensive part of your home.

Five-inch or six-inch, and why size matters

Many builder-grade gutters in Austin are five-inch with small downspouts. They work in a light rain, but in a two-inch-per-hour downpour they overflow at valleys and inside corners. On most homes we install six-inch seamless aluminum gutters with three-by-four downspouts, which carry roughly twice the water.

Seamless gutters are formed on site from a single coil, so there are no joints along each run to leak. We hang them with hidden hangers every two feet, set a steady slope toward each downspout and add splash guards where valleys pour heavy water into the gutter.

Leaf guards for live oak country

Live oaks drop leaves in spring rather than fall, right as hail and storm season begins. Pollen tassels and small leaves pack gutters quickly, and clogged gutters overflow against fascia and foundations. If your home sits under oaks, cedar elms or pecans, guards are worth a look.

We install micro-mesh guards that keep out leaves and most debris while letting water through. They are not zero maintenance, since fine debris can sit on top and need an occasional rinse, but they turn a twice-a-year ladder job into a quick check.