Downspouts done right, 6 feet clear.
A downspout that dumps at the base of the house just moves the overflow problem down to your foundation, where it seeps into the basement, erodes the soil, and rots the fascia. We carry that water at least 6 feet out, with extensions and splash blocks above ground or buried drainage below.
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Get your free downspout estimate
How far does your water actually go?
Pick a distance to see where a downspout should send water, and what happens when it dumps too close to the house.
....6 ft · safe0 ft.
Danger zone, soaking your foundation
Water dumped right at the base of the house seeps toward the foundation and basement, erodes the soil, and rots the fascia.
....6 ft · safe2 ft.
Danger zone, soaking your foundation
Water dumped right at the base of the house seeps toward the foundation and basement, erodes the soil, and rots the fascia.
....6 ft · safe4 ft.
Better, but still too close
It beats the wall, but it is still not far enough to keep water off the foundation in a heavy rain. Push it to at least 6 feet.
....6 ft · safe6 ft.
Safe, draining well clear of the house
That is the target. At 6 feet or more, water drains well clear of the house instead of down the wall, where it belongs.
....6 ft · safe10 ft.
Safe, draining well clear of the house
That is the target. At 6 feet or more, water drains well clear of the house instead of down the wall, where it belongs.
A guide, not a survey. The right distance depends on your grade and soil, which we check at your free on-site estimate.
Every part of moving the water.
From a single extension to a full buried system, whatever gets the water off your foundation.
New or replacement downspouts, sized to your gutters and placed where the water actually needs to go, color-matched to your trim.
The simple fix, extensions and splash blocks that carry water past the foundation and stop it pooling at the wall.
A solid pipe buried from the downspout to a discharge point well away from the house, so there is nothing to mow around.
Re-secure, re-route or replace downspouts that have come loose, crushed, or that dump in the wrong spot.
We size the downspouts to the roof area they drain and place them so every run actually clears the foundation.
Matched to your trim or siding in a range of colors, with copper available for a premium architectural look.
What goes into your number.
Every yard drains differently, so we price it on-site instead of guessing online. Here is what actually drives the cost.
The count of downspouts and drainage points around the house is the biggest single driver of the number.
Simple 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 get safely clear of the foundation, and where it can be let out.
A yard that already falls away from the house is simpler than a flat lot that needs help moving the water.
Downspout size, and whether you want standard aluminum, steel or a premium copper finish.
Whether we are adding drainage to sound existing gutters or installing it as part of a new gutter run.
No online guesswork. You get a written, itemized number after a free on-site estimate, and financing is available for qualified projects. Get your free estimate →
Above ground or underground?
Both get the water clear of your foundation. It is a trade-off of cost, looks and how far the water has to travel. We will help you choose.
Extensions & 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
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, or long runs
Signs your drainage is failing.
If any of these sound familiar, your downspouts are probably dumping too close to the house.
Puddles that sit against the foundation or under a downspout for hours after the rain stops.
Moisture, musty smell or actual water in the basement or crawlspace after a storm.
Washed-out beds, trenches in the mulch, or bare ruts where the downspout water lands.
Dark water staining or efflorescence on the foundation right below a downspout.
Sheets of ice on paths or the driveway in winter where downspout water spreads and freezes.
Softening or peeling fascia and trim near a downspout that is backing up or overflowing.
Any of these? A free on-site look will tell you whether an extension will do it or you need buried drainage.
Getting the water 6 feet out is the whole job.
A downspout is only doing its job if the water ends up well clear of the house. We size and place them properly, run extensions or a buried line on the correct fall, and check that the water actually leaves the foundation. All with our own crews, licensed and insured, family-owned since 1979.
From pooling to properly drained.
Four steps to get the water where it belongs, away from your house.
We look at your grade, your downspouts and where water actually pools, so we solve the real problem, not just the symptom.
Downspouts sized to the roof area they drain and placed so every run has a clear path away from the foundation.
Above-ground extensions or a properly-pitched buried line that carries the water at least 6 feet clear of the wall.
We check that water runs freely to the discharge point and actually leaves the foundation, not just the gutter.
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Downspouts and drainage, answered.
Why do downspouts matter so much?
A downspout that dumps water right at the base of the house just moves the overflow problem to your foundation. Water pooling against the house works its way toward the basement, erodes the soil, and rots the fascia. Getting it well clear of the wall is the whole point.
How far should downspouts drain from the house?
At least 6 feet from the foundation, and further on graded or erosion-prone lots. We run extensions or buried drainage to carry the water clear of the wall so it cannot seep back toward the basement.
Above-ground or underground, which is better?
Above-ground extensions and splash blocks are simpler, cheaper and easy to adjust. Underground buries a pipe out to a discharge point away from the house, nothing to mow around and it moves water much further. We help you pick the right one for your lot.
Can you add drainage to my existing gutters?
Yes. We install, replace and repair downspouts and drainage on new or existing gutters, sized and placed correctly and color-matched to your trim, with copper available.
What does downspout and drainage work cost?
It depends on how many downspouts you have, whether you go above-ground or underground, the run length and your grade, so we price it on-site rather than post a number online. You get a written, itemized number after a free on-site estimate, and financing is available for qualified projects.
Do you do underground or buried drainage?
Yes. We bury a solid pipe from the downspout on the correct fall, out to a discharge point well away from the house, so roof water leaves the foundation cleanly with nothing above ground to trip on or mow around.
Downspouts and drainage across southern Wisconsin.
Two offices, our Madison, WI headquarters and our Brodhead, WI office, serving homeowners across Dane and Milwaukee counties and into southern Iowa.
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
Get the water off your foundation.
Extensions and splash blocks above ground, or a buried line below. We carry roof water at least 6 feet from the house, so it stays out of your basement and off your fascia. We will look at where your water actually goes, lay out both options, and give you a written number. Financing available.
- FREE ESTIMATE
- 6+ FT FROM THE WALL
- ABOVE OR UNDERGROUND
- OWN CREWS
Water by the house?
Free look, written number.
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