Asked on Apr 08, 2018

How to divert roof stormwater runoff away from the house w/o gutters?

Deb
by Deb
Is there an inexpensive way to divert roof water runoff away from your homes foundation without gutters? I live in a mobile home and added a really nice metal roof complete with a covered deck. The metal that hangs over the edge of the home doesn't allow attachment of gutters, but does help water from hitting windows... However, the amount of water that pours off at the area where the home roof meets the deck roof is overwhelming. Of course the storm water then goes under the home. In a downpour, a 5 gallon bucket fills in less that a minute. Any suggestions? Oh, to make it even harder, a total outside heat pump /central air unit was put in which required new duct work. The new duct work is HUGE, making it harder to get under the home to do any work or repairs. I definitely need help!!!!

  10 answers
  • Linda Sikut Linda Sikut on Apr 08, 2018

    Hi Deb,

    I found an article that has some ideas for the water problem, but I don't have any idea of the costs or if it will even completely solve your problem. Click on the link below to see if it helps you. As to the space under your home, my suggestion would be to find someone local who you can work with to see if it's truly a problem or if it was not installed properly, then take it from there. Sorry I can't be more help. :( Wishing you the best.

    https://www.wikihow.com/Reduce-Stormwater-Runoff-at-Your-Home

  • Jewellmartin Jewellmartin on Apr 08, 2018

    You could use a landscape designer, but I haven’t found one over the age of twelve who works free. A few things could help your situation that don’t cost much. 1. If the rain is coming off the roof, it has to land somewhere. Give it pavers to fall on in the front, of any color and type. Look for people around town who have construction going on and ask if you could have some of their accidentally broken pavers, rocks or bricks. You don’t care if the bricks have concrete globs on them. You just want to stick a lot of them in the ground to divert the hard flow of rainwater since the ground can’t absorb that much. Mix the bricks with the other materials sunset that will diffuse the water even more. 2. Dig several small trenches under and away from your house, heading downward. Make sure you don't hit any underground pipes or lines. Take a big lantern and a small but strong trowel or other digging tool under the house with you so you can stretch ahead without coming out the front. 3. That’s the no cost drainage way, but if you can afford it, spread a load of any gravel or rocks you can get under your house and out the back. The material doesn’t have to match. This will save the foundation of your house by spreading out the wash-out area. 4. As you can, put strong underpinning around the front of the house. Keep your drainage in the back, but bury some hose or pipe to help with the drainage. 5. The thicker the grass and shrubs are around the house, the better the ground’s ability to absorb more water and disperse it out to help the whole yard. 6. Some builders, hardware and home improvement stores, brick yards, and demolition crews will be glad to give you extras and discards. Ask nicely and be gracious, whatever the answer. Best wishes ☺️

  • 2dogal 2dogal on Apr 08, 2018

    There ARE gutters made for metal roofs. You need to contact a professional.

    • Deb Deb on Apr 09, 2018

      Thank you for taking the time to respond to my water problem. I have had gutter companies and private contractors look at the roof issue, and no one had a solution. The roof tin would have to be cut way back to add the gutters. Cutting the roof back would put stress on the roof tin, thus loosening the screws holding it on... resulting in leaks. Because it Is a mobile home attaching the gutter supports to the sides of the trailer and out far enough to catch the water apparently can't be done easily and in a way that would not make new problems due to the weight involved when there is a downpour... do you know a way to have some type of gutter system that doesn't attach to the home????? Any creative idea would be appreciated. Like a think tank, maybe some one will find a unique way to do this. Thanks again☺

  • Pjo26908388 Pjo26908388 on Apr 08, 2018

    I'm with Sal, water like this requires eve troughs and down spots or rain chains. Since the low point is the crawl space water will always go there unless it is directed away from your home.



    • See 1 previous
    • Deb Deb on Apr 09, 2018

      Thank you for taking the time to respond to my water issue. I was having trouble keying my reply, so I did a lengthy one to Sal, If you read it, maybe you might have an idea for the 'think tank' approach.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Apr 08, 2018

    New Pitch at the front of your mobile home to go from top to front of covered deck without join.

  • Pjo26908388 Pjo26908388 on Apr 09, 2018

    Perhaps a sump pump for under your place when it rains to remove the water.



  • Pjo26908388 Pjo26908388 on Apr 10, 2018

    Perhaps a sump pump under your place to remove water and route it a distance from your home?

  • Marcel Young Marcel Young on Nov 01, 2018

    Can you add a rain barrel that diverts the excess water away from your home?

  • MamaSita MamaSita on Aug 21, 2020

    A scupper. I did the same on my house. I put a large ceramic pot filled with stones and had it a bit on an angle. The water hits the ceramic pot, it runs off down pavers to the street.


  • Lifestyles Homes Lifestyles Homes on Apr 16, 2021

    I would bring in some dirt and build up an “watershed apron” with 6 mil Visqueen (buy it by the roll on-line) on top the dirt

    and crushed rock on top the plastic.

    Don’t buy pretty gravel in the garden section, buy crushed rock in the concrete foundations section.

    It can be edged with big rocks or bricks to look like a flower bed.

    If you’ve access to a truck, then go for bulk, not bagged.

    Fill dirt might or mulch be free, at a City yard.