GUTTER & DOWNSPOUT AT ENTRY OF HOME.
 

MY WIFE AND I WILL BE AT TV IN OCTOBER FOR THE SECOND TIME. GATHERING INFO.
THE NEW HOME ADS INDICATE GUTTER DOWNSPOUTS AT THE ENTRY WAY. I ASSUME YOU HAVE TO INSTALL THE REMAINDER OF THE ROOF LINE . IS THIS NEEDED AND WHAT ABOUT COST TO INSTALL??

Re: GUTTER & DOWNSPOUT AT ENTRY OF HOME.
 

Chas,

I think its a Florida Thing (well, at least a South Thing anyway). Gutters just aren't all that important, except at the entrance. Builder, at least when we bought in May '07, provided gutter & downspouts at the entry only. As you look TV homes, you will probably notice that most do not add gutters all around the house, as is customary "up North".
Hope this helps. Have a wonderful time in October, that is just about the best time of year in Florida. :)

Re: GUTTER & DOWNSPOUT AT ENTRY OF HOME.
 

thanks, fourpar. 040 040

Re: GUTTER & DOWNSPOUT AT ENTRY OF HOME.
 

It also depends whether you have a hip roof or a gable roof line. You might want to add gutters on hip roofs but you certainly don't need them if you have gabled ends.

Re: GUTTER & DOWNSPOUT AT ENTRY OF HOME.
 

We will have gutters added for 8 to 10 feet over the back entrance off the lanai where the inside corner of the hip roof creates a torrent when it rains. That will be it.

Re: GUTTER & DOWNSPOUT AT ENTRY OF HOME.
 

I went ahead and had it installed all around my place --- don't remember the cost, but it wasn't that much. Hasn't rained since then. However, if it does ever rain again, the one spot where gutters do help a bunch is across the garage. Otherwise, the concrete will mark.

Re: GUTTER & DOWNSPOUT AT ENTRY OF HOME.
 

Chas,

As northerners, we were used to full house gutters and had them put in here....for a Lantana designer model it was approx $500 to put them all around the house/lanai and add a couple of new downspouts. We had a fountain onto concrete patio at one place ... solved that. This was in about Dec 06.

It really is personal preference...not sure it is essential down here.

Re: GUTTER & DOWNSPOUT AT ENTRY OF HOME.
 

Why is there a difference from north to south in gutter use? I thought it took the water away from the house. (Usually to the street). There are no drains in streets?

Re: GUTTER & DOWNSPOUT AT ENTRY OF HOME.
 

Why is it "essential" up north and not down here? Or was it "tradition" up north?

Re: GUTTER & DOWNSPOUT AT ENTRY OF HOME.
 

I think more houses up north have basements and the gutters help drain water away from the house minimizing issues with getting water in the basement.

Re: GUTTER & DOWNSPOUT AT ENTRY OF HOME.
 

California also has gutters all the way around the house -- no basements there cause of earthquakes. Interesting question though.

Re: GUTTER & DOWNSPOUT AT ENTRY OF HOME.
 

My guess would be that gutters generally aren't necessary where the soil is porous such as Florida's sandy soil. The water doesn't pool and create a wet area. Up north, with more loamy and clay soils, the water will pool or run to a low area and generally must be drained away in urban areas through a stormwater system.

I think the gutters at the entry in TV are mainly so you can go in and out of the house without the water running off the roof showering you.

Re: GUTTER & DOWNSPOUT AT ENTRY OF HOME.
 

Now that makes a lot of sense. Why couldn't I think of it? :dontknow:

Re: GUTTER & DOWNSPOUT AT ENTRY OF HOME.
 

We bought in September 07--first thing we did was add gutters. It was raining here at that time--not much rain since--and we did not like the way the rain came off the roof--splashed back onto the house. We paid $525 to complete the gutters around the house---- with 6 additional downspouts. We have a Jasmine home.

Re: GUTTER & DOWNSPOUT AT ENTRY OF HOME.
 

:bigthumbsup: We have a Amarillo ranch with front gutters and downspouts. When we sat on our lanai last October, I noticed that the water (dew) was dripping down on the concrete. We asked our neighbor and he gave me a name to have the rear gutters installed. We had to leave to come back north, but he came on a Sunday and put up the gutters and 2 downspouts. ~$300. Did a very neat job. He also checked on the front gutters. He found that they were loose and needed fixing, which he did. I noticed that when the water dripped off of the roof, it was making holes in the soil around the house. I thought that the holes were bugs. But, now I don't have the dripping. Plan on visiting again with our friends in October. Hopefully, we will retire in May, 2009. JanetandCarol