Gutter & Drainage Glossary
A plain-English reference for the terms Gutter Pro uses on quotes, walks, and contracts. If a term shows up on your estimate or on a competitor's proposal and you want to know what it means, this is the place.
If you don't see a term defined here, call (904) 304-3199 or request a free quote and Owner Albert will explain it during the design walk.
A
ADS pipe. Trade name for corrugated black plastic drainage pipe (Advanced Drainage Systems). Common in builder-spec underground drainage. Gutter Pro does not install ADS pipe â see Schedule 40 PVC for the alternative we use instead.
Aluminum gutter. Painted aluminum gutter formed in 5-inch, 6-inch, or 7-inch widths. The standard residential gutter material in Florida. Lasts decades when installed correctly.
Alu-Rex Continuous Hanger. A one-piece aluminum hanger that runs the entire length of a gutter section, distributing the load evenly. Alternative to traditional spike-and-ferrule or spaced hidden hangers. More on Alu-Rex products.
B
Box gutter. A square-profile gutter built into the roof structure rather than mounted on the fascia. Common on commercial and architectural buildings. Available in custom profiles from Gutter Pro on premium builds.
Builder-grade. Industry shorthand for the minimum-spec gutter package included in production-built homes â typically 5-inch aluminum on spike-and-ferrule hangers with minimum downspouts. Functional but undersized for most Northeast Florida conditions.
C
Catch basin. A surface-water inlet with a grated cover that collects rainwater at a known low point and routes it to underground drainage. Used at driveway edges, patio borders, and downspout discharge zones. More on drainage installation.
Channel. The U-shaped trough portion of a gutter that water flows through. Channel size is the headline gutter spec â 5-inch, 6-inch, 7-inch, or 8-inch.
COI (Certificate of Insurance). Document showing a contractor's liability insurance coverage. Property managers, HOA boards, and builders require COIs before work begins. Gutter Pro provides COIs on request.
Color match. Aluminum gutter painted to match existing trim color. Standard Gutter Pro practice â we don't default to white when the trim is anything else.
Continuous hanger. See Alu-Rex Continuous Hanger.
Copper gutter. Solid copper seamless gutter, formed on site. Premium option for historic homes, oceanfront properties, and high-end builds. Develops a patina over time. Roughly 3-4Ã the cost of aluminum.
Corrugated pipe. Flexible black plastic drainage pipe with ridges. See ADS pipe. Cheap to install, fails within 5-10 years on most Florida lots due to root intrusion and silt buildup. Gutter Pro does not install corrugated pipe.
D
Daylight (or daylight discharge). A drainage system exit where buried pipe terminates at an open end on the ground surface, typically at the property edge. Simplest discharge method when the lot has enough fall.
Downspout. Vertical pipe that carries water from the gutter channel to the ground or underground drainage. Standard sizes are 2x3 (cosmetic) and 3x4 (oversized for proper drainage).
Drainage system. The entire underground water-management network including buried pipe, French drains, catch basins, pop-up emitters, and discharge points. More on drainage installation.
Dry well. A buried gravel pit that holds and slowly disperses water into the soil. Works in places with deep, fast-draining soil. Rarely the right answer in Northeast Florida's clay subsoil.
E
Eave. The lower edge of a roof that overhangs the wall. Gutters mount along the eave on the fascia.
End cap. The closed end of a gutter run. Sealed with butyl or specialized gutter sealant. Common failure point on aging gutter systems â water pools at the cap and leaks at the seam.
F
Fascia. The long horizontal board that runs along the eave at the bottom edge of the roof. Gutters mount to the fascia. Often hides rot underneath an aging gutter. More on soffit and fascia repair.
French drain. A perforated pipe in a gravel-lined trench, wrapped in geotextile fabric, that captures both surface water and shallow groundwater. Used for soggy yards, foundation perimeter drainage, and side-yard corridors. More on French drains.
G
Galvanic corrosion. Chemical reaction between dissimilar metals (like steel fasteners against copper gutters) that accelerates metal failure. Prevented by spec'ing compatible fasteners â Gutter Pro uses copper or stainless on copper installs.
Geotextile fabric. Non-woven filter fabric used in French drain trenches to keep silt out of the drain rock and pipe perforations. The difference between a 30-year French drain and a 5-year French drain.
Gutter guard. Any system installed over a gutter to keep debris out. Quality varies dramatically â Gutter Pro standardizes on LeafBlaster Pro micro-mesh for Northeast Florida conditions. More on LeafBlaster Pro.
H
Hanger. The hardware that attaches the gutter to the fascia. Three common types:
- Spike-and-ferrule. Old-school spike driven through a hollow ferrule. Loosens over time. Used on builder-grade installs.
- Hidden hanger. Internal bracket that screws into the rafter tail or fascia. Stronger and cleaner-looking. Gutter Pro standard.
- Continuous hanger. One-piece aluminum hanger running the full gutter length. See Alu-Rex Continuous Hanger.
Half-round gutter. Semi-circular gutter profile, typically copper. Architectural appearance on historic and high-end homes.
HOA exterior approval. Homeowners-association sign-off required before exterior changes (including gutters) can be installed in HOA-restricted communities. Gutter Pro coordinates HOA approvals as part of the project.
L
LeafBlaster Pro. Stainless steel micro-mesh gutter guard system. Lifetime manufacturer warranty. Gutter Pro's standard guard recommendation for Northeast Florida. Full guide on LeafBlaster Pro.
Linear footage. The measurement of a gutter run along the roof edge. Pricing is typically expressed per linear foot.
M
Micro-mesh. Fine-weave gutter guard material that blocks small debris like shingle grit and pine needles while passing water. Stainless steel micro-mesh (LeafBlaster Pro) is more durable than aluminum micro-mesh in salt-air conditions.
Miter. The corner joint where two gutter runs meet at a roof corner. Outside miters wrap around an external corner; inside miters fit into an internal corner. Common leak point on aging systems.
N
NDS-certified. Trained and certified by NDS, the national leader in drainage product engineering. Indicates the contractor knows proper drainage sizing, slope, depth, and material specification. Gutter Pro is NDS-certified for residential and commercial drainage.
P
Pop-up emitter. Spring-loaded discharge fitting that sits flush with the lawn until water pressure pops the cap open. Used where there's not enough fall to daylight a drain. Cleaner appearance than open-pipe daylight.
ProMesh / micro-mesh. See Micro-mesh.
R
Rafter tail. The end of a roof rafter that extends past the wall. Hidden hangers often screw into the rafter tail for the strongest attachment.
S
Schedule 40 PVC. Rigid white PVC pipe rated for buried use. Smooth-walled, doesn't collapse under foot traffic, doesn't silt up, doesn't get rooted through. The only underground drainage pipe Gutter Pro installs. Lasts 50+ years.
Seamless gutter. Continuous gutter formed on site to the exact length of the roofline. No joints along the run, only at corners and downspouts. Standard premium gutter style. More on seamless gutters.
Sectional gutter. Pre-cut gutter sections joined every 10 feet with sealed seams. Older style. Each joint is a potential leak point. Not what Gutter Pro installs on new work.
Soffit. The underside material that closes the space between the fascia and the wall, with vents that allow attic airflow. Damaged soffit allows pest intrusion and attic moisture. More on soffit and fascia repair.
Splash block. Concrete or plastic block placed at a downspout discharge to redirect water away from the foundation. Acceptable when underground drainage isn't installed; not a substitute for designed drainage.
Spike-and-ferrule. See Hanger. Original builder-grade hanger style. Loosens with thermal cycling. Common failure point on aging gutter systems.
Sump pump. Mechanical pump that lifts water from a low collection point and pumps it to a higher discharge. Used in drainage when no gravity solution works. Adds an electrical/mechanical failure point â Gutter Pro uses sump pumps only when necessary.
T
T-Rex. Alu-Rex's branded gutter guard product. Aluminum mesh design. See LeafBlaster Pro for the alternative Gutter Pro standardizes on.
U
Underground drainage. Buried pipe network that carries water from gutter downspouts (and other sources) to a designed discharge point at the property edge. Schedule 40 PVC is the Gutter Pro spec. More on drainage installation.
W
Water-management system. The complete designed water path: gutters, downspouts, gutter guards, underground drainage, French drains, and discharge. The full Gutter Pro design. Complete system offer.
Get a quote
Free on-site walk with Owner Albert. We measure, walk the drainage path, and present a single project number â no high-pressure sales.
Call (904) 304-3199 or request a free quote.
Browse seamless gutter installation. Drainage installation. LeafBlaster Pro guide. Our process. About Gutter Pro. Financing.
NDS-certified drainage. Schedule 40 PVC. Lifetime warranty on labor and materials. Fully insured. Owner Albert on every walk. Locally owned, locally installed in Northeast Florida.