Across Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island, Yulee and Jacksonville, many homes pair a two story design with a screened pool cage or lanai out back. It is a great setup for Florida living, but it creates a real challenge for rainwater. Roof water from a second story falls a long way, and whatever sits below it, whether that is a pool deck, a screen enclosure or patio furniture, takes the hit. Here is how the LePierre Roofing Gutter Division plans gutters for these homes.
Why height changes everything
On a single story home, water spilling off the roof edge drops a short distance. On a two story home, the same water falls much farther and lands with more force. That means more splashing, more soil washed away and more wear on anything below.
Two story homes also tend to have larger roof areas and more complex rooflines, with upper and lower roof sections, valleys and corners. All of that adds up to a lot of water arriving at certain spots during a summer downpour. That is one reason we install 6 inch seamless gutters: the extra capacity helps keep up when water rushes off a big roof all at once.
What roof water does to a pool area
Without gutters, or with gutters that overflow, water pouring off the roof onto a pool cage or lanai can cause:
- Screen damage. Heavy, repeated streams of water and debris can stretch, stain or tear screen panels on the roof of the enclosure.
- Dirty pool water. Roof runoff carries leaves, pine needles, grit from shingles and pollen straight into the pool.
- Slippery decks. Water sheeting onto pavers or concrete creates slick spots and can leave stains and algae over time.
- Wet furniture and walls. Splash back soaks outdoor furniture and the lower walls of the house.
Planning gutters above a pool cage
When a pool cage attaches to or sits close to the house, the gutter plan has to account for it. We look at where the cage meets the roofline, which roof sections drain toward it, and where downspouts can go without dumping water onto the deck or into the pool.
Often the best approach is to carry water along the gutter to a downspout outside the enclosure, so it drains into the yard instead of onto the deck. Where a downspout has to come down near the pool area, it needs a clear path for water to move away, whether that is a splash block, an extension or underground drainage that carries it out of the way.
Upper roofs draining onto lower roofs
Many two story homes have an upper roof that drains onto a lower roof, such as over a porch, garage or first floor room. If an upper downspout empties straight onto the shingles below, all that water hits one spot again and again. Over time, that concentrated flow can wear the roof surface and overwhelm the lower gutter.
Planning how upper and lower gutters work together keeps water spread out and moving to the right place. This is also a good time to look at the roof itself. As the Gutter Division of LePierre Roofing, we can coordinate roofing work when needed. Our post on doing a new roof and gutters together explains why.
Leave the high work to a crew
Second story gutters are not a weekend ladder project. Working at that height above a pool cage, patio or landscaping takes the right ladders, setup and experience. If your upper gutters are clogged, sagging or overflowing, it is safer to have a crew take care of it.
Protect your pool area
The LePierre Roofing Gutter Division installs 6 inch seamless gutters on one and two story homes across Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island, Yulee, Callahan, Hilliard, Jacksonville, Kingsland and St. Marys. Call (904) 277-3000 or request a free estimate and we will plan a system that keeps water off your pool deck and away from your home.
