If you have gutters in your home, it's important to make sure they are clean before winter arrives. Installing gutters and downspouts is a great way to direct rainwater away from the house and reduce the chances of soil around the foundation becoming saturated. When evaluating the proper slope of the gutter, look for signs of standing water in the parts of the gutter away from the downspout and check the margin against the fascia. Most downspouts are made of the same material as the gutter system, so they tend to have similar issues, but with some additional considerations due to their proximity to high-traffic areas.
Even if you live in an area where it doesn't rain often, it's still important to install gutters after getting a new roof. As an experienced home inspector, I've seen many homes with foundations and mezzanines that have been damaged due to years of poor gutter and downspout maintenance. When selecting a size for your downspouts, remember that larger sizes can conduct more water at a faster rate, as long as there are enough downspouts to drain the gutter channels without overflowing (EPA 201). Make sure to inspect the edge of your roof for any metal edges that may be leaking or included as part of the gutter.
