Save Money on Gutters with a Rain Diverter

Installing gutters on your home can be a major expense, not to mention a large-scale project that many homeowners simply do not want to deal with. If you do not have gutters installed, however, heavy rain and melting snow can result in flooding of the steps or sidewalks around your house – this can create a dangerous situation. Luckily, there is an available alternative to gutters – it is called a rain diverter.

What Is a Rain Diverter?

A rain diverter is exactly what it sounds like – it is something you install on the roof of your home in certain areas to divert water flow. The most common placement for rain diverters is above doorways. Without a gutter, water flowing off the roof will form a sort of waterfall across the doorway – no one wants to walk through a waterfall to get in or out of the house. With a rain diverter, you can channel runoff from the roof away from the doorway so it shoots off to either side. Rain diverters are typically made from sheet metal formed in an L-shape, and they can be cut to size depending on your needs.

Tips for Installing a Rain Diverter

The first step in installing a rain diverter is to cut the diverter to the appropriate size. To do so, you will need to use a ladder to reach the roof above the doorway (or whatever area you plan to install the diverter) and measure the area. Cut the diverter about 1 foot longer on each side than the width of the doorway. Next, you will need to loosen the shingles on the roof so you can slide the diverter under them. Use a putty knife or a small pry bar to loosen the second layer of shingles back from the ledge of the roof, then slide the diverter under the loosened shingles. To make sure that the diverter works properly, slant it slightly so one side sits 1 to 2 inches lower than the other.

Once the rain diverter is in place, you will need to nail it down using roofing nails. Gently lift up the shingles and nail the rain diverter in place to the roof – when you replace the shingles, they will cover the nails. Once you’ve nailed the diverter down, apply some roofing cement to the underside of each single and fill in the gaps between shingles so no water seeps in under the rain diverter. Press down firmly on the shingles to create a seal and to set the roofing cement. With that, you will have properly installed your rain diverter.

If you are tired of getting soaked by a deluge of water every time you walk through the door on a rainy day, a rain diverter may be the solution you’ve been looking for. Not only are rain diverters easy to install, but they are a much more cost-effective and practical solution than installing new gutters on your house.