Gutters: A Glossary of terms.

About Lesson

Downspout:
A downspout also referred to as a leader is the vertical pipes that guide the water from the gutter to the ground
Eave:
An eave is a section of the roof that hangs over the wall of the house, so that the wall is protected from rainwater.
Elbow:
A gutter downspout elbows are an essential part of your gutter system that is responsible for directing the water from the gutters away from your house.
End Cap:
A gutter end cap, also known as a gutter stop end or gutter end piece, is a part of a gutter system that seals the end of a gutter trough. They are usually found in the corners of a house or where the gutter system ends.
Extreme Miter:
An extreme miter is an inside gutter miter with an extended front end. It’s designed to help prevent overflowing from a roof valley
Gauge
Is the thickness of the Aluminum used to fabricate the gutter.
Gutter Covers:
A gutter cover, also known as a gutter guard or a gutter grate, is a covering installed on the top of your gutters. (there are many styles that will be covered in future lessons)
Gutter downspout extension:
A gutter downspout extension is an accessory that’s attached to the end of a downspout to direct rainwater or snowmelt away from your home’s foundation-it extends the downspout.
Hangers-Fasteners
Hangers/Fasteners are the piece that connect the gutter section to your home. Hidden hangers are installed inside the gutter so that they’re not visible from below or front.
Miter:
Miters are an essential component of your system that are designed to connect the gutters in the corners of your roof and reinforce the seam where they connect. When gutters meet on the outside corner, they are joined by an outside miter. Similarly, when two sections of the gutter meet on an inside corner, they are joined by an inside miter.
Oversize Downspout:
An oversize downspout is a larger downspout designed to have a larger load capacity.
Outlet:
Gutter outlets, or gutter drops / goose necks are parts installed in a gutter to direct water to a downspout or elbow.
Pitch:
The pitch of a gutter, also known as the slope, is the downward angle of the gutter at certain points along its length. The slope helps water flow to the downspouts, and a gradual slope can also make a home look more aesthetically pleasing. A general rule of thumb is that gutters should slope ¼ to ½ inch for every 10 feet, but the ideal slope can vary depending on the home and climate:
Run:
A run is a straight section of gutter mounted against the fascia board. It is measured in linear feet.-
Run Height
The height (in stories) at which each gutter run will be located (first story, second story, etc.). This is used to determine the length of downspout needed.
Splash Block:
A splash block is a flat long object that sits under the bottom of the downspout Splash Blocks are used to keep the water run-off f from washing away soil or mulch under the downspout.
Splash guards:
Splash guards are thin panels of metal or plastic that attach to the outer edge of existing rain gutters to stop rainwater from overflowing. These splash shields are typically L-shaped and installed at the base of roof valleys, but some models are flat and vertical and are installed along the lengths of gutters.
Strap:
A strap also known a Leader Band, these strips of metal are bent to form around the Leader and used to “strap” or attach the Leader to the building.
Vampire Hanger
A vampire hanger is type of gutter strap used to secure gutters directly to a roof when there is no flat fascia board.
Wedge:
A wedge allows the gutter to hang straight down from the roof as opposed to following the angle of the fascia board.