Alternatives to Gutters: What Works and What Does Not

Why people look for alternatives

Some homeowners do not like the look of gutters, some are tired of cleaning them, and some have a house that never had them and seems fine. Those are fair reasons to ask. The question to answer first is where the roof water goes without gutters, and whether that spot can handle it. Every inch of rain on 1,000 square feet of roof is roughly 620 gallons, and Wichita averages a little over 34 inches of precipitation a year (Wikipedia: Wichita, Kansas (climate)).

When skipping gutters can work

• Wide roof overhangs that drop water well away from the walls.
• Ground that slopes clearly away from the house on every side.
• Slab foundations without a basement or crawl space, on soil that drains.
• No entries, walks or patios under the eaves.
• Outbuildings where some splash and soil movement is acceptable.

On many Wichita-area houses with clay soil, basements and modest overhangs, those conditions are not all met. The residential building code adopted locally (Wichita-Sedgwick County Unified Building and Trade Code (2018 IRC adoption and permit exemptions)) calls for roof drainage to be carried at least 5 feet from foundation walls where expansive or collapsible soils are known to exist (ICC, 2018 International Residential Code, Section R801.3 roof drainage), which is hard to achieve without gutters on a typical house.

The main alternatives

Drip-line gravel beds

A trench filled with gravel under the roof edge, often over a perforated pipe or a sloped liner, catches falling water and keeps it from splashing and eroding. Works: for reducing splash and erosion. Limits: water still enters the soil right next to the foundation unless the bed drains away through a pipe. Leaves fill the gravel over time.

Regrading

Building up soil so it slopes away from the house is good practice with or without gutters. Works: moves surface water away. Limits: water from an un-guttered roof falls in a concentrated line and can still saturate the soil near the wall before it flows away.

French drains

A gravel-filled trench with perforated pipe that collects water and carries it downhill. Works: for collecting groundwater and surface water along a wall or across a yard. Limits: needs a downhill outlet, can clog with silt, and is a bigger excavation project. Often used alongside gutters, not instead of them. See downspout drainage options.

Rain chains

Chains or cups that guide water from a gutter outlet to the ground. Works: as a decorative replacement for a downspout at an entry or garden. Limits: they still need a gutter above them, handle less water than a downspout, splash more and can freeze into an ice column in winter.

Rain dispersal louvers

Metal louvers mounted at the roof edge that break the falling sheet of water into droplets spread over a wider area. Works: for reducing erosion trenches. Limits: water still lands near the house, and they are uncommon, so finding installers and parts can be harder.

Built-in box gutters

Gutters built into the roof edge and hidden behind trim, common on some older homes. Works: preserves a clean roofline. Limits: when the lining fails, water leaks into the structure; relining is specialized work.

Roof diverters

Small metal strips installed on the roof to steer water away from a doorway. Works: for a single entry. Limits: they move water a few feet sideways, not away from the house, and can trap debris.

Comparison at a glance

Lower-maintenance gutters instead

If cleaning is the real objection, the better answer is often gutters designed to need less of it: larger 6-inch gutters and 3x4-inch downspouts that clog less, guards matched to your trees, and outlet strainers. See gutter guards and gutter sizes. If looks are the objection, gutters matched to the fascia color and downspouts tucked into corners all but disappear.

Bottom line

Alternatives are tools, not substitutes, for most houses on clay soil. Gravel beds, grading and French drains are excellent companions to gutters. Going without gutters makes sense mainly for houses with wide overhangs, great grading and no basement.

If you are weighing alternatives because of a specific problem, such as ice over an entry, erosion along one side or cleaning on a tall roof, describe that problem when you ask for advice. The right answer is often a targeted fix rather than removing gutters altogether.

Related services

• Gutter Installation: New seamless gutters and downspouts measured, sized and pitched for your roof.
• Downspouts & Drainage: Add, upsize or relocate downspouts and carry water away from the foundation.
• Gutter Guards & Covers: Screens, micro-mesh and covers that keep leaves and seeds out of gutters and cut down on cleanings.

Sources: ICC, 2018 International Residential Code, Section R801.3 roof drainage; Wichita-Sedgwick County Unified Building and Trade Code (2018 IRC adoption and permit exemptions); EPA Soak Up the Rain, disconnect and redirect downspouts; Wikipedia: Wichita, Kansas (climate).