Gutter drainage and downspout contractor, since 1979.
A downspout that dumps at the wall pushes roof water into your foundation, your basement and your fascia. Buckshot carries it at least 6 feet clear, with above-ground downspout extensions or buried underground drainage. Own crews, licensed and insured, since 1979.
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How far should a downspout drain from the house?
Pick a distance to see where downspout water should land, and what a short discharge does to the foundation.
....6 ft · safe0 ft.
Worst case, straight into the foundation
Roof water lands against the wall and follows it down. Wet basements, heaved slabs and rotted fascia all start here.
....6 ft · safe2 ft.
Still inside the danger zone
Two feet keeps water off the siding but not out of the backfill zone, where the soil sits loosest and drains straight down.
....6 ft · safe4 ft.
Closer, still short in heavy rain
Four feet handles a light shower. A downpour on a 1,500 square foot roof moves hundreds of gallons, and it will find the foundation.
....6 ft · safe6 ft.
The target for most lots
Six feet clears the backfill zone on a typical Wisconsin lot. Extensions reach it on most homes, buried pipe on the rest.
....6 ft · safe10 ft.
Best on flat lots and wet basements
Ten feet suits flat ground, clay soil, or a basement that already takes water. Buried pipe is usually the only tidy way there.
A guide, not a site survey. Your grade, soil and discharge options set the real number. We check all three at the free on-site estimate.
Downspout installation and drainage services.
Downspout installation, extensions, and underground drainage, sized to the roof area each run carries.
New or replacement downspouts, sized to the roof area each one drains and placed where the water needs to go. Color-matched to your trim.
The simple fix. Extensions carry water past the foundation and stop it pooling at the wall, and you can adjust them later.
Solid pipe buried from the downspout on the correct fall, out to a discharge point well clear of the house. Nothing above ground to mow around.
Re-secure, reroute or replace downspouts that have come loose, been crushed, or discharge in the wrong spot.
Sized to the roof area each downspout drains, and placed so every run has a clear path away from the foundation.
Matched to your trim or siding across a range of colors, with copper available for an architectural finish.
What downspout drainage costs.
Every lot drains differently, so we price downspout drainage on site rather than guessing online. Six things move the number.
The count of downspouts and drainage points around the house is the single biggest driver.
Extensions and splash blocks cost far less than a buried system with trenching and a discharge point.
How far the water has to travel to clear the foundation, and where it can legally discharge.
A lot that already falls away from the house is simpler than a flat yard that needs help moving water.
Downspout size, and whether you choose standard aluminum, steel, or a copper finish.
Whether we add drainage to sound existing gutters or install it with a new gutter run.
You get a written, itemized number, and financing is available on qualified projects.
No obligation. We price the above-ground and underground options at the same visit.
Underground downspout drainage, or above ground?
Both routes carry roof water clear of the foundation. The trade-off is cost, appearance, and how far the water has to travel. We price both at the estimate.
Downspout extensions and splash blocksThe simpler, lower-cost route
- Lowest cost and quickest to install
- Easy to adjust or move later
- Nothing to dig, no trenching in the yard
- Great where the grade already falls away from the house
Underground buried pipe drainageThe clean, move-it-further route
- Nothing above ground to mow around or trip on
- Moves water much further from the foundation
- Cleaner look with no visible extensions
- Best for flat lots, wet basements and long runs
Signs your downspout drainage is failing.
Any of these mean roof water is landing too close to the wall and staying there.
Puddles sitting against the foundation or under a downspout hours after the rain stops.
Moisture, a musty smell, or standing water in the basement or crawlspace after a storm.
Washed-out beds, trenches in the mulch, or bare ruts where downspout water lands.
Dark staining or white efflorescence on the foundation directly below a downspout.
Sheets of ice across paths and the driveway where downspout water spreads and freezes.
Softening or peeling fascia and trim near a downspout that backs up or overflows.
Any of these? A free on-site look settles whether a downspout extension handles it or the lot needs underground drainage.
Why hire a gutter drainage contractor.
Most gutter drainage work fails on fall and discharge point, not on the downspout itself. We size each run to the roof area it drains, pitch the extension or buried line correctly, and test that water leaves the foundation. Own crews, WI license DC-080900045, family-owned since 1979.
How downspout drainage installation works.
Four steps from the first look at your grade to a tested discharge point.
We check the grade, the existing downspouts and where water actually pools, so we fix the cause rather than the symptom.
Downspouts sized to the roof area they drain, placed so every run has a clear path away from the foundation.
Above-ground extensions, or buried pipe pitched to drain, carrying roof water at least 6 feet from the wall.
We run water to the discharge point and confirm it leaves the foundation, not just the gutter.
What homeowners say about the drainage work.
4.9 / 5 · 200+ verified reviews
Downspouts and drainage, answered.
Why does downspout drainage matter?
A downspout discharging at the wall moves the problem from the gutter to the foundation. That water works toward the basement, erodes the soil and rots the fascia. Carrying it clear of the house is the entire job.
How far should a downspout drain from the foundation?
At least 6 feet, and further on flat or erosion-prone lots. Downspout extensions handle most yards. Underground drainage carries it further where the grade works against you.
Underground downspout drainage or above ground, which is better?
Extensions cost less, install faster and adjust easily. Underground drainage moves water further, leaves nothing to mow around, and suits flat lots and wet basements. We price both at the on-site estimate.
Can you relocate a downspout or add drainage to existing gutters?
Yes. We reroute and relocate downspouts, and add drainage to sound existing gutters, sized and placed correctly and color-matched to your trim. Copper is available.
What does gutter drainage and downspout work cost?
The downspout count, above ground versus underground, run length and your grade set the number. We price it on site rather than post a figure online. You get a written, itemized estimate, and financing is available on qualified projects.
Who installs underground downspouts near me?
Buckshot does, across southern Wisconsin, eastern Iowa and northern Illinois. We bury solid pipe from the downspout on the correct fall, out to a discharge point clear of the house, then test the flow before backfilling.
Gutter drainage contractors in Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois.
Two offices, our Madison, WI headquarters and our Brodhead, WI office, covering Dane and Milwaukee counties, eastern Iowa including Cedar Rapids, and northern Illinois.
Madison, WI Office
621 N Sherman Ave, Suite B5
Madison, WI 53704
Mon-Sat 8AM-5PM · 24/7 Storm Line
Brodhead, WI Office
17312 W Hafeman Rd
Brodhead, WI 53520
Mon-Sat 8AM-5PM · 24/7 Storm Line
Book a gutter drainage estimate.
Downspout extensions above ground, or buried pipe below. We carry roof water at least 6 feet from the house, so it stays out of the basement and off the fascia. You get both options priced and a written number. Financing available.
- FREE ESTIMATE
- 6+ FT FROM THE WALL
- ABOVE OR UNDERGROUND
- OWN CREWS
Water pooling by the house?
Free look, written number.
★★★★★ 4.9/5 on 200+ Google reviews