See also:
|
Gutter Downspout Extensions
  Gutter
downspout extensions are popular items
to prevent water from collecting next to
the house’s foundation, which can cause problems
with soil erosion and water seeping into
the crawl space or basement. Great for moving
the rainwater away from the house, downspout
extensions come in two basic types:
- Rigid gutter downspout extensions are straight plastic or
metal pieces that come in various lengths
including very long lengths. If you prefer
a color other than the standard white, brown,
or green, look for one that can be painted
to match/coordinate with your house. Although
half tube (topless tubes) extensions will
not become plugged up from debris coming
down from the gutters, full tube extensions
eliminate the need to clean out leaves and
debris that may collect in half tubes. If
you are concerned these extensions will cause
problems by extending out into the lawn,
making it difficult to mow, or hazardous
to people walking on the lawn, look for those
that are designed to pivot up when not needed.
- Flexible gutter downspout extensions are made of soft plastic
and generally come in shorter lengths than
the rigid types. They often have perforations
at the end of the extension so water is dispersed
over a large area instead of coming out in
a great rush at one spot, which can cause
a hole in the lawn. Those that are normally
rolled up but unroll when the fill with water
are usually the least expensive. A more rigid
but still flexible extension is a plastic
hose that can be curved around shrubbery
and stretched or compacted to various lengths.
Whichever type of extension you select, make
sure that it can be removed easily to facilitate
cleaning leaves and other debris out of the
downspout. |
|
|
