With Calgary’s erratic weather and significant snowfalls, eavestroughs that are correctly installed and maintained cannot be overlooked if you want to avoid leaks, erosion, and expensive repairs. Superior Roofing knows what Calgary’s climate requires and how to deliver expert eavestrough solutions. We keep your home protected year-round with dependable, quality service.
How Eavestroughs Protect Homes
So, eavestroughs are an essential component to protecting your Calgary home. Calgary’s crazy weather, especially the rain and hail, and freeze-thaw cycles, means that every home needs a functional eavestrough system to protect it as much as possible from water-laden damage.
Directing Rainwater Away from Foundations
Eavestroughs direct rainwater away from a home’s foundation. Without eavestroughs, water can gather around your home’s base, causing foundation issues such as cracks, basement leaks, or even soil erosion. By getting water to a safe place, like a downspout extension, eavestroughs minimize your chances of expensive structural damage.
Preventing Water Damage to Exterior Walls
Overflowing eavestroughs can splash water onto your siding, creating unsightly stains and peeling paint or even erosion. Over time, this can weaken the home’s exterior and jeopardize its appearance. By maintaining clean, working gutters, a homeowner can avoid this type of damage. We install 5” or 6” eavestroughs – depending on your roof’s size and volume of water – to guarantee enough capacity to deal with Calgary’s intense downpours.
Reducing Ice Dam Formation
In Calgary’s brutal winters, freeze-thaw cycles result in ice dams on sloped roofs. Eavestroughs clogged with debris made the issue even worse as they held water in place, which froze and prevented proper drainage. Ice dams not only destroy gutters, but they can also send water backing up under shingles and into your home. Routine maintenance and leaf guards can reduce this danger.
Minimizing Wear and Tear
Hail, wind, and debris accumulation are Calgary homeowner staples. These elements can warp, detach, or crack eavestroughs. Cleaning — at least annually — and prompt repairs increase their life expectancy, generally 15 to 20 years.
Calgary’s Weather vs. Eavestroughs
Calgary’s weather is brutal – especially on eavestroughs. With our ever-changing Calgary weather, where we can go from a frost to 22 degrees all in one day, a properly installed and well-maintained eavestrough system is imperative to keeping your property safe.
Heavy rains are a given in Calgary, making quick water drainage a necessity. A well-installed eavestrough system does the job of funneling rainwater onto the ground away from your home, avoiding water buildup against your foundation. Eavestroughs with the correct pitch are particularly vital, as they enable water to drain efficiently towards downspouts. There’s improper installation, like installing eavestroughs too close to the roof edge, causing overflow and long-term structural problems.
Specific Weather Challenges and Eavestrough Solutions:
- Heavy Rains: Properly pitched eavestroughs prevent water from pooling and causing leaks.
- Snow and Ice: Seamless eavestroughs minimize weak points where ice can build up. Downspouts need to be clear to avoid blockages during early winter snowfalls, which Calgary can experience as early as September.
- Freeze/Thaw Cycles: Durable materials like aluminum or steel are ideal to handle the constant expansion and contraction caused by Calgary’s freeze/thaw cycles.
- Temperature Fluctuations: Flexible and weather-resistant materials ensure eavestroughs can endure Calgary’s rapid shifts in temperature. Without this, cracking or warping is more prone to occur.
Harsh winters are a threat – snow and ice dams can cause water to back up onto your roof. Seamless eavestroughs with efficient downspout drainage help fight this with smooth water flow, even in freezing conditions.
Installation and maintenance are key in Calgary’s brutal weather. Homeowners need to steer clear of fatal errors such as poor placement or failure to maintain, as these can exacerbate issues.
Choosing Your Eavestrough Material
Your choice of eavestrough material affects durability, cost, and performance – particularly in Calgary’s unforgiving climate. Every option carries its own set of advantages and disadvantages, so choosing the right material is important.
Aluminum eavestroughs are very popular because they are rust-proof as well as being lightweight and durable. They’re affordable, at just $6-$20 per piece depending on gauge. Typical thicknesses are 0.023 and 0.032 gauge, the latter providing stronger resistance to Calgary’s heavy snow loads and freeze-thaw cycles. Aluminum is low maintenance, comes in a variety of colors and is an excellent long-term investment for the average homeowner looking for reliability without paying a fortune.
Vinyl eavestroughs, inexpensive, are a second favoured option. They’re simple to install, perfect for residential properties where cost is a factor. They cost on average between $4 and $8 a piece. Vinyl’s lifespan could be compromised during Calgary’s cold winters, as the material becomes brittle and prone to cracking and leaking over time. Vinyl may do for budget-conscious homeowners in temperate climates, but Calgary’s freeze means it won’t stand the test of time.
Seamless eavestroughs are another good choice, especially if you want to reduce leaks and get the most bang for your buck. Unlike traditional sectional systems, seamless eavestroughs are custom-fit to your home, decreasing punch points where water can leak out. This is your aluminum and steel option, with installation beginning at approximately $1,500 for typical homes but saving you money down the road for upkeep and repairs.
Here’s a quick comparison of eavestrough materials:
| Material | Pros | Cons | Cost (per piece) |
| Aluminum | Rust-resistant, lightweight | May dent easily | $6–$20 |
| Vinyl | Affordable, easy to install | Brittle in cold weather | $4–$8 |
| Steel | Durable, strong | Prone to rust without maintenance | $9–$15 |
| Copper | Long-lasting, aesthetic | Expensive | $25–$33 |
The Downspout’s Crucial Role
Downspouts are integral to any eavestrough system, especially here in Calgary, where our weather enemies can be quite vicious. Their main function is to guide rainwater and snowmelt away from your home’s foundation to mitigate issues such as soil erosion, basement flooding, and structural damage. A well-installed downspout directs water in a way that safeguards your property and landscaping.
One of the most important factors in downspout functionality is installation. Downspouts need to be fastened with a proper slope so water can drain freely. If they’re at an improper angle, they can cause pooling or blockages. They typically have extensions to guide the water further from the foundation, decreasing the potential of damage to surrounding soil or hardscaping. For example, a two-metre extension can be very helpful in Calgary’s clay-heavy soil, which likes to shift when oversaturated.
Maintenance is just as important. During Calgary’s cold winters, clogged downspouts can cause water to back up into the eavestrough, overflow, and form ice dams. Cleaning should occur at least twice a year to inhibit debris accumulation and to keep the system operative. Incorporating a checklist can simplify this process: inspect for clogs, check the slope, and ensure all attachments are secure.
For homeowners in need of a more sophisticated option, underground downspout drainage systems provide a hidden and effective method of water management. These systems route the water straight out and away from the home, eliminating surface water problems and making for an attractive, tidy-looking exterior. This method is especially practical in Calgary’s cramped residential neighborhoods.
Your Calgary Maintenance Calendar
Your eavestroughs could be the hardest-working components on your home – especially in Calgary’s harsh climate. Routine maintenance will not only help protect your home from water damage, but it can extend the life of your eavestroughs as well.
1. Annual Cleaning Schedule
For Calgary, cleaning your eavestroughs twice a year is best – once in spring and again in fall. Spring cleaning washes away winter dirt and melted ice, whereas fall cleaning sweeps leaves and twigs in preparation for snow. If your budget permits, maintain this schedule to prevent clogs that result in water pooling or leaks. For instance, leaf clearing in September makes sure your gutters are prepared for Calgary’s early snowfalls.
2. Seasonal Maintenance Tasks
A year-round maintenance plan ensures eavestroughs remain functional:
- Spring: Check for cracks or sagging sections caused by winter’s freeze-thaw cycle. Do clean gutters as part of your spring cleaning.
- Summer: Inspect downspouts for blockages and ensure water flows freely. Fix loose brackets or connections.
- Fall: Remove fallen leaves and test the drainage system before the first frost.
- Winter: Monitor for snow or ice buildup to prevent ice dams, which can strain gutters.
3. Pre-Winter Preparations
Getting your eavestroughs ready before Calgary’s unforgiving winters is crucial. At the start of the season, remove debris but make sure all fasteners are tight. This reduces the potential hazards of ice dams or sagging. Taking care of these problems ahead of snowfall not only makes the job safer, but it also reduces stress on the system.
4. Professional Inspections
Annual inspections from a professional can catch these hidden issues like loose seams, improper slopes, or minor leaks. With Calgary’s climate, expert inspections guarantee your drainage system withstands snowmelt and intense precipitation without giving way, preventing expensive repairs down the road.
Beyond the Standard System
Calgary Eavestrough Systems are a cut above the rest. These improvements cater to specific structural requirements, climate issues, and maintenance considerations.
Upgrading to gutter guards is a smart move to lessen clogging and maintenance. Calgary’s fall months are marked with heavy leaf fall, which can rapidly choke normal eavestrough systems. Gutter guards are your armor against debris buildup — shielding your gutters to let water flow freely during heavy rain or snowmelt. They save time and maintenance costs by reducing routine cleaning.
Specialized drainage for Calgary’s extreme climate. Certain homes might need extra drain routing or reinforcements because of aging infrastructure. Switching to 6″ seamless eavestroughs, instead of the standard 5″, boosts drainage capacity, particularly for bigger roofs or houses with complicated designs. Accessories such as scupper drains and overflow systems add additional water management to ensure you never have to worry about pooling or leaks.
| Feature | Benefit |
| Gutter Guards | Reduces clogging and maintenance |
| Scupper Drains | Prevents water buildup on flat roofs |
| Overflow Systems | Protects against heavy rainfall overflow |
| Heated Cables | Prevents ice dams during winter |
Custom profiles and colors enable homeowners to coordinate eavestroughs with their home’s style. Choices such as copper or aluminum not only enhance aesthetics but boost durability and functionality in Calgary’s harsh weather. Copper, while initially pricier, provides a level of durability you can’t beat and needs the least maintenance.
Last, but not least, for intricate rooflines, custom-fit systems with specialized drainage options like leaf guards or splash blocks add a major bonus. Granted, these systems can be a bit more expensive, but they are guaranteed to work and mitigate the risk of water damage, so worth it!
Wrapping Up
Rugged, reliable eavestroughs protect Calgary homes from water damage, no matter how hard it rains or how quickly the snow melts. Selecting the best materials and remaining diligent about maintenance it makes sure your system flows without a hitch throughout the year. A professional eavestrough and downspout installation not only safeguards your home, but it’s also an investment in its value and curb appeal.
Need quality eavestroughs in Calgary? Superior Roofing delivers reliable installation, repairs, and recommendations specific to our city’s climate. Contact us today for professional advice or to schedule an appointment.
