Gutter Terms Glossary
Box Miter
2 pieces of gutter mechanically formed into a single corner piece used to connect 2 gutters at a corner.
Chimney Cap
A cap that surrounds the top of the chimney.
This cap protects the masonry from rain and other natural elements as well as blocking animals, rain or snow from entering the chimney.
Conductor Head
Also known as a Leader Head or a Scupper Box this part is generally used to catch water from flat roofs or commercial buildings that don’t have gutters. Conductor Heads are also used as decorative exterior accents on upscale homes and multi-family residential buildings.
Downspout
Also known as a Leader or Leader Pipe. This is designed to drain the water from the gutter and down the side of the building.
Downspouts come in various shapes and sizes.
Downspout Screen Insert
Also known as a Strainer, a round screen or wire strainer placed inside the Pop-In (Outlet Tube) to prevent debris from entering the Leaders (Downspout, Leader Pipe). These should only be used when the Leaders enter into Underground Drains.
Dry Well
An underground chamber near a building, having stones or gravel inside and used to collect rainwater runoff from the roof of the building as a means of avoiding soil erosion.
Some Dry Wells are simply mini cast concrete cesspools. Most Underground Drains empty into Dry Wells.
Eave
The lowest part of the roof that usually overhangs (goes past) the walls of the building.
The underbelly of the roof eave is called the Soffit.
Elbow
The curved section of the leader that allows the Leader to “turn” or “bend”.
Elbows are usually used to connect the Leader to the Gutter and they are installed at the bottom of the Leader to point the water away from the home.
End Cap
A form fitting part that is attached to the end of a Gutter. It is crimped on and sealed with a Silicone sealant.
Fascia
Or fascia board, this is the horizontal board (usually made of wood) that covers the joint between the top of the wall and the bottom of the protruding roof Eave (also known as Soffit).
Ferrule
A cylindrical tube that the Spike enters through in the gutter. The Ferrule keeps the gutter from collapsing when the Spike is hammered through it.
Flashing
Usually made from aluminum, flashing can serve several purposes – most often used to waterproof a section or area around the home (usually roof and chimney areas).
Where gutters are concerned, flashing is typically installed to bridge or eliminate any gaps between the Gutter and the Fascia board. This commonly happens when the back of the gutter warps or the roof shingles are too short.
Gutter
Any trough designed to catch rainwater that drips off a roof edge. Gutters come in various shapes and sizes and can be made from aluminum, copper, zinc, steel or wood.
Hidden Hanger
A pre-engineered bracket that attaches the gutter to the Fascia board. Hidden Hangers usually come with 3” hex-head screws allowing the bracket to sturdily attach to the rafters when needed. Hidden Hangers are not visible from the outside of the Gutter.
Leader
Also known as a Downspout or Leader Pipe. This is designed to drain the water from the gutter and down the side of the building. Leaders come in various shapes and sizes.
Leader Band
Also known as a Strap, these strips of metal are bent to form around the Leader and used to “strap” or attach the Leader to the building.
Leader Head
Also known as a Conductor Head or a Scupper Box this part is generally used to catch water from flat roofs or commercial buildings that don’t have gutters.
Leader Heads are also used as decorative exterior accents on upscale homes and multi-family residential buildings.
Leader Pipe
Also known as a Downspout or Leader. This is designed to drain the water from the gutter and down the side of the building.
Leader Pipes come in various shapes and sizes.
Miter
This is the corner section of the Gutter. Although the gutters may be seamless, they cannot turn a corner – therefore a Miter is used to connect two sections of gutter at a corner.
Gutter Miters come in 2 forms: Strip Miters or Box Miters.
Outlet Tube
Also known as a Pop-In this is the short round connecting piece placed inside the hole of the Gutter. The Leader (or the Elbow at the top of the Leader) is then placed over the Outlet Tube, so it is generally not visible unless you are looking down into the gutter.
Many installers try to cut costs and eliminate this part since the customer does not see it anyway.
Pop-In
Also known as an Outlet Tube this is the short round connecting piece placed inside the hole of the Gutter. The Leader (or the Elbow at the top of the Leader) is then placed over the Outlet Tube, so it is generally not visible unless you are looking down into the gutter.
Many installers try to cut costs and eliminate this part since the customer does not see it anyway. It is crucial that this part is included in the Gutter installation – if not, water will leak through where the Elbow or Leader meets the Gutter.
Scupper Box
Also known as a Leader Head or a Conductor Head this part is generally used to catch water from flat roofs or commercial buildings that don’t have gutters. Scupper Boxes are also used as decorative exterior accents on upscale homes and multi-family residential buildings.
Silicone
A polymeric elastic substance used to seal various parts of the Gutter system.
Soffit
The underbelly of the building’s roof overhang. The underneath of the roof Eave.
Spike
Known to most homeowners as the “Nails” that hold up the Gutter. Spikes are the cheapest and most widely used form of Gutter installation.
Spikes are visible on the outside of the Gutter and are very prone to “pulling” out of the Fascia board and Gutter. They come in various forms including “smooth”, “ridged”, aluminum, galvanized, copper, steel.
Splashblock
A flat long object that sits under the bottom of the Leader. Splashblocks are used to keep the water run-off from the Leader from washing away soil or mulch under the Leader.
A Splashblock is also a useful tool in avoiding water pooling under the Leader.
Strainer
Also known as a Downspout Screen Insert, a round screen or wire strainer placed inside the Pop-In (Outlet Tube) to prevent debris from entering the Leaders (Downspout, Leader Pipe).
These should only be used when the Leaders enter into Underground Drains.
Strap
Also known as a Leader Band, these strips of metal are bent to form around the Leader and used to “strap” or attach the Leader to the building.
Strap Hanger
A form of Hidden Hanger, this type of hanger is a bracket that sits inside the Gutter and attaches to the home with a metal strap that gets nailed or screwed to the roof either under or over the shingles. Typically, the strap is visible outside of the Gutter.
Strip Miter
A strip of metal used to connect two gutters at a corner – inside or outside corners.
Underground Drain
When a Leader goes into the ground or, when a Leader goes into another pipe which goes into the ground.
It is very common for Underground Drains to NOT function properly. This is usually due to age, poor or improper construction, or neglect. Most Underground Drains empty into Dry Wells.
Wedge
