Water Management
The Last Line of Defence Between Your Roof and Your Foundation
Every drop of water your roof sheds needs somewhere to go. When drainage fails, the damage shows up in your walls, your foundation, and your repair bills.
Water is your home’s biggest enemy. A properly functioning drainage system (eavestroughs, gutters, downspouts, leaf guards, and de-icing) manages the bulk of water shed by your roof and directs it safely away from your home. When any component fails, water cascades down exterior walls, erodes landscaping, pools around the foundation, and backs up under shingles.
In Western Canada, the problem is compounded by heavy spring snowmelt, intense summer storms, and winter ice formation. A drainage system designed for these conditions isn’t optional; it’s essential.
Your Drainage System Is Part of Your Roof System
Eavestroughs and downspouts are not separate from your roof; they are the final stage of the water management chain. When they fail, the consequences cascade in three directions:
Upward: Ice Dam Formation
Frozen eavestroughs prevent meltwater from draining. Water backs up behind the ice, pools on the roof surface, and is forced backward under the shingles. The ice also adds enormous weight to the fascia and eavestrough hangers, pulling them away from the home.
Downward: Foundation Damage
When eavestroughs overflow or downspouts discharge too close to the house, water pools around the foundation. Over time, this leads to basement moisture, erosion, and structural settlement—problems that cost thousands more to fix than the drainage issue that caused them.
Outward: Wall and Fascia Rot
Water overflowing from the eavestrough saturates the fascia board (the vertical board to which the eavestroughs are attached). Rotted fascia can’t hold the eavestrough in place, creating a cascading failure. Overflow also runs down exterior walls, damaging siding, trim, and paint.
We don’t treat drainage as an afterthought. It’s designed and installed as part of the complete system—roof, attic, ventilation, insulation, and water management working together.
Our Water Management Services
Eavestrough Installation
High-capacity 5” or 6” aluminum eavestroughs professionally installed with proper pitch for maximum flow. Hidden hanger systems for structural strength and clean appearance. Sealed joints to prevent leaks and dripping. Sized for your roof area and local rainfall and snowmelt intensity.
Why it matters: Undersized or improperly pitched eavestroughs are the most common drainage failure we see. Water overflows behind the fascia, pools at the foundation, and contributes to ice dam formation in winter.
Gutters
Complete gutter system solutions (new installation, repair, and replacement). We design based on your roof’s area, pitch, and specific drainage requirements, not a one-size-fits-all template. Sagging gutters, leaking joints, separated sections, and ice-damaged hangers are diagnosed and corrected.
Leaf Guard Systems
Keep debris out and water flowing. Multiple guard styles—mesh, solid-top (reverse curve), and hybrid systems—matched to your home’s tree exposure, eavestrough size, and climate zone. Dramatically reduces maintenance frequency while preventing the blockages that lead to overflow and ice dams.
Downspout Optimization
Proper downspout placement, sizing, and routing to direct water away from your foundation, not toward it. We evaluate existing placement against roof area and water volume, extend discharge points a minimum of 6 feet from the foundation, and install splash blocks or underground extensions to protect the most vulnerable areas.
SmartMelt™ De-Icing System
Electric de-icing elements along eaves, in valleys, and inside eavestroughs to prevent ice dam formation. Uses self-regulating technology that adjusts heat output based on ambient temperature—energy-efficient and targeted. A complement to proper insulation and ventilation, not a replacement for them. Best suited for complex roof geometries where perfect ventilation is architecturally difficult.
Signs Your Drainage System Needs Attention
- Water overflowing the eavestrough during rain — blockage, improper pitch, or undersized system
- Staining or rot on the fascia board behind the eavestrough — water backing up behind the trough
- Erosion or bare soil directly below the roofline — missing or displaced downspouts
- Water pooling around the foundation after rain — downspouts discharging too close to the house
- Ice forming inside eavestroughs in winter — drainage blocked, meltwater refreezing
- Eavestroughs sagging or pulling away from the house — hanger failure from ice weight or age
- Leaves, pine needles, or granules accumulating in the trough — no leaf guard protection
- Dripping or leaking at eavestrough joints — sealant failure from thermal cycling
- Basement moisture appearing after heavy rain — foundation drainage overwhelmed by roof runoff
If you see water where it shouldn’t be (overflowing, pooling, dripping, or staining), the drainage system needs evaluation.
How We Fix Water Management
We don’t guess. We measure, diagnose, and correct the balance. Here’s our process:
Step 1: Measure Existing Capacity
We calculate the existing intake and exhaust capacity against the 1:300 ratio for your attic’s insulated ceiling area. This tells us exactly how far out of balance the system is, and where the shortfall lies.
Step 2: Identify Blockages
We check every soffit vent for blockages (insulation pushed into the cavity, painted-over screens, debris accumulation). We also verify that exhaust vents are clear and functional.
Step 3: Evaluate Vent Types
Mixed exhaust vent types (ridge + box, ridge + turbine) are identified and assessed for short-circuiting. We recommend a unified exhaust strategy that functions as a single system rather than competing components.
Step 4: Check Fan Routing
Bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans are verified for proper exterior routing. Fans venting into the attic (a severe code violation) pump enormous volumes of moisture directly into the roof system. This single deficiency can destroy a roof from the inside out within a few years.
Step 5: Install or Correct
Based on findings, we install soffit baffles, add or replace exhaust vents, clear blocked intakes, re-route improperly vented fans, and restore the intake-exhaust balance. Every correction is documented with before-and-after photographs.
Common Questions About Water Management
How often should eavestroughs be cleaned?
What size eavestroughs do I need?
Can clogged eavestroughs cause ice dams?
How far should downspouts extend from the house?
Is the SmartMelt™ system better than heating cables?
Do you coordinate eavestrough work with roof replacement?
