How many downspouts does my house need?

Enough to move water out of the gutters as fast as the roof sends it there. There's no universal number — it depends on roof area, pitch, valleys, gutter length and size, and where water can drain. A long run with one undersized downspout can overflow even when the gutter is clean.

How far should downspouts extend from the foundation?

Aim for at least 5 feet. Homes with basements, poor grading or slow-draining soil often benefit from 6–10 feet. Distance alone isn't enough — the ground also needs to carry the water away after it leaves the extension.

Why do my gutters overflow during heavy rain?

Clogs are one cause, but often the gutters simply don't have enough downspouts, or the downspouts are too small for the amount of roof feeding them. Adding or relocating downspouts, or moving to 6-inch gutters, can fix it.

Should I replace downspouts when I get new siding?

It's the ideal time. Downspouts come off for the siding work anyway, so it's easy to re-plan their size and location and make sure they're attached cleanly to the new siding.

Downspouts & Drainage in the Quad Cities

Downspouts sized and placed to move roof water out of your gutters and away from your foundation

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Gutters Collect. Downspouts Deliver.

A gutter is a collection channel and the downspouts are its exits. If a large roof feeds a long run with a single outlet, the gutter fills faster than it can drain — and overflows even when it's perfectly clean.

We plan the downspout layout with every gutter system: how many, how big, where they go and where the water ends up.

Seamless gutter and downspout on a Quad Cities home

What Decides Your Downspout Layout

How much roof area feeds each gutter run
Roof pitch and valleys that concentrate runoff
The length of each gutter run
5-inch or 6-inch gutter size
Rainfall intensity during Quad Cities storms
Where water can safely discharge

How Far Should Water Go?

Gutters only do half the job if the downspout dumps water right next to the house. Practical starting points:

5 feet

A good general minimum for discharging water away from the foundation.

6–10 feet

Worth considering with a basement, poor grading, slow-draining soil or a history of water problems.

Farther

When the yard allows water to reach a lower area or daylight outlet safely.

Downspout & Drainage Guides

Downspout Questions

Gutters by City

We install gutters throughout the Quad Cities and surrounding 90-mile radius.

Davenport, IA Bettendorf, IA Moline, IL Rock Island, IL East Moline, IL Sterling, IL Rock Falls, IL Muscatine, IA Clinton, IA DeWitt, IA Geneseo, IL Galesburg, IL Silvis, IL Milan, IL

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No pressure. No obligation. We measure, explain your options and give you an honest price.

Or call us directly: 563-391-4000

What Our Gutter Customers Say

“We just wanted to tell you how pleased we are with the patio door that was installed and the Gutter Caps. When we think of Suburban Construction, we think of value, quality and service. Thank you for responding to our needs in a timely fashion and thank you for a job well done.”

Harlan and Sandy Henzen

Davenport, IA

“Your company recently completed siding our home - complete with a gorgeous new front door with side panels and gutters. Our salesman, Bob Clancy was more than accommodating and very pleasant with whom to work... The crew manager was a pleasure and most accommodating. He and his crew did all they could to please us and that they did! Our house looks outstanding and we are more than pleased with everyone who made it look this way!”

Frank and Irene DeClercq

East Moline, IL

“The Gutters, windows, siding and doors all look great and are exactly what we wanted. The crew worked quickly and they respected our privacy and our property inside and out and made sure we were happy with the results. Everything looks great!”

Don and Sherrie Frieden

Muscatine, IA

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