Fountain, CO · El Paso County

Downspouts & Foundation Drainage in Fountain

The short answer

Downspouts & Foundation Drainage in Fountain, CO: Outlet capacity, downspout placement and discharge that actually gets water away from the foundation rather than three feet from it.

What it costs: An added downspout with standard extension typically runs 150 to 350 dollars depending on height and run. Buried drain lines are priced by length and by what has to be dug through, and we quote those after looking at the grade.
What is included: Adding outlets where run length or roof area demands more capacity; Upsizing two by three downspouts to three by four where volume requires it; Extensions and elbows discharging four to six feet out, further on adverse grade; Buried drain lines with pop-up emitters where surface extensions would cross a walkway; Splash blocks and grade correction at discharge points; Rerouting discharge away from walkways that ice over in winter.
Where we work: Fountain and the surrounding El Paso County, including Cross Creek, Countryside, Ventana.
Getting a quote: Free and no obligation. Call (719) 963-7440 or request a quote online.

Downspouts are the part of the system that most often fails on design rather than on condition. A perfectly clean gutter with one undersized outlet at the far end of a forty foot run will overflow in any real storm, and the water it does carry frequently gets dumped straight against the foundation it was supposed to protect. Both are fixable and neither requires replacing the gutters.

What this means in Fountain specifically

Where the water has to go

The lowest elevation we serve at around 5,550 feet, with a good deal of older housing on lots that were graded before current drainage practice. Downspouts discharging straight onto a walkway or against the foundation are extremely common on this housing stock, and correcting the discharge is often the cheapest meaningful improvement to the house.

What the roofs are like here

Mixed. Established mid-century homes with older three-tab asphalt and low-slope porch and carport additions, alongside newer subdivision architectural shingle. The low-slope sections on older homes are the recurring problem, as they were often shingled when they should have been membrane.

Snow load and ice damming

Lowest elevation in our El Paso County coverage at roughly 5,550 feet, so snow melts fastest here. Load is rarely the concern; wind-driven rain against low-slope additions is more often the source of leaks.

Fountain sits at approximately 5,546 feet.

What is included

Adding outlets where run length or roof area demands more capacity
Upsizing two by three downspouts to three by four where volume requires it
Extensions and elbows discharging four to six feet out, further on adverse grade
Buried drain lines with pop-up emitters where surface extensions would cross a walkway
Splash blocks and grade correction at discharge points
Rerouting discharge away from walkways that ice over in winter

How we do it

1
Work out where the water is concentrating
Roof planes funnel into valleys and valleys funnel into short stretches of gutter. That is where capacity is needed, and it is rarely evenly spaced along the eave.
2
Look at the grade before choosing discharge
On a lot that falls back toward the house, a four foot extension moves the problem four feet and no further. Grade decides whether you need a longer surface run or a buried line.
3
Fit and secure
Downspouts strapped properly to the wall, elbows sealed, extensions fixed rather than laid loose where a mower will move them.
4
Test under load
Water through the system, and we watch the discharge point to confirm it is running away from the house rather than pooling.

What it costs

An added downspout with standard extension typically runs 150 to 350 dollars depending on height and run. Buried drain lines are priced by length and by what has to be dug through, and we quote those after looking at the grade.

We quote Fountain properties before starting, and the number you hear is the number you pay. If something on site changes the scope, you hear about it before we do the work rather than on the invoice.

Neighborhoods we serve in Fountain

Cross Creek, Countryside, Ventana, and everywhere else in Fountain.

Fully Insured

Free Photo-Documented Inspection

Written Scope Before You Sign

Locally Owned & Operated

Downspouts questions from Fountain

How far from the house should downspouts discharge?

Four to six feet is the working minimum, and more on lots that grade back toward the foundation. The purpose is to get water outside the backfill zone around the foundation, which is looser and more permeable than undisturbed soil and will happily carry water straight down to your footing.

Are buried downspout lines a good idea?

Where a surface extension would cross a walkway, a driveway or a lawn you have to mow, yes. They need a fall of their own and a pop-up or daylight outlet, and they need to be rodded out occasionally like any drain. A buried line with no fall is worse than no line at all, because it holds water and freezes.

Why does my basement get damp only in heavy rain?

Very often this is a gutter and downspout problem before it is a foundation problem, and it is worth eliminating first because it is dramatically cheaper. A roof sheds an enormous volume in a short storm, and if that volume lands at the foundation it goes down the backfill. Fix the discharge and see what remains.

Can you add downspouts without replacing the gutters?

Yes, in most cases. Cutting in an additional outlet and running a new downspout is a common and straightforward correction, and it is usually the cheapest meaningful fix for a run that overflows.

Related work in Fountain

Often booked together

Downspouts in nearby communities

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