What is a Gutter?

Full definition

A gutter is the horizontal channel along the bottom edge of a roof that catches rainwater as it sheets off the roof surface and directs it laterally to downspouts. In residential construction, gutters are typically 5" or 6" wide, made of aluminum (most common), steel, or copper, and shaped in either K-style (flat-back profile that looks like crown molding) or half-round (true semicircle).

Gutters serve three functions: they prevent rain from cascading off the roof onto walkways/foundations, they direct water away from the foundation to prevent basement seepage, and they protect the fascia board behind them from constant water exposure.

Related terms

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