Drive through neighborhoods in Fernandina Beach, Yulee, Amelia Island or Jacksonville and you will see plenty of stucco homes, many with stone accents around entries, columns and the lower walls. These finishes look great and hold up well in our climate, but they have one common enemy: roof water running where it should not. Here is how the right gutters and downspouts help protect stucco and stone on your home.
Why stucco and stone need help
Stucco and stone are both porous. They can absorb water when it runs down the wall or splashes up from the ground again and again. In Northeast Florida, where heavy afternoon storms and high humidity are part of everyday life, that moisture has a hard time drying out, especially on shaded sides of the house.
Without gutters, or with gutters that overflow, roof water pours off the edge and either streams down the wall or lands at the base and splashes back up. Over time, that repeated soaking can lead to stains, mildew and wear on the finish.
Signs water is hitting your walls
- Dark streaks running down the stucco below the roof edge.
- A dirty or green band along the bottom of the wall from splash back.
- Mildew or algae on stone accents, especially on the north side or under trees.
- Rust colored or white stains on stone, often from water moving through it and drying on the surface.
- Small cracks or soft spots near corners where water collects.
If you notice any of these, water is likely reaching the wall more than it should.
How gutters keep walls dry
Gutters catch water at the roof edge before it can reach the wall. Our 6 inch seamless gutters are formed at your home to fit each run of roofline, and the extra capacity helps them keep up during heavy downpours instead of spilling over onto the stucco below.
Gutters also need to sit right. When a gutter is properly fastened to solid fascia and pitched toward the downspouts, water moves along it instead of dripping behind it. If you want to learn more about that part of the system, read our post on what holds your gutters up.
Downspouts that work with the wall
On stucco and stone homes, downspouts do more than carry water down. Where they are placed affects how the home looks and how well the walls stay dry. A few things we look at:
- Corners first. Downspouts placed at corners tend to look cleaner and keep water off the middle of large wall sections.
- Clear of stone features. Where possible, we route downspouts away from stone columns and accents so water does not run across them.
- Matching colors. Many stucco homeowners match downspouts to the wall or trim so they blend in. Our post on choosing a gutter color covers the options.
Keeping the base dry
The bottom of a stucco or stone wall takes the most abuse, because that is where water lands and splashes. Once water comes out of the downspout, it should move away from the house, not pool at the foundation. Splash blocks, extensions or underground drainage can carry water out into the yard, keeping the base of your walls cleaner and drier.
Protect your exterior
The LePierre Roofing Gutter Division installs 6 inch seamless gutters on stucco, stone and siding 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 walls.
