Gutters Overflowing in Franklin? Find Out What's Going Wrong

When gutters spill over in a Franklin downpour, the cause is usually one of five things. Check them in order before paying for new gutters. For material and installation prices, see our siding and gutters cost guide.

1. Clogged gutters or downspouts

Leaves, shingle grit and debris can fill the trough or jam the downspout elbow. With a ladder on level ground (or a professional), clear the gutter, then run a hose. If water backs up at the downspout, the blockage is below the gutter.

Water that pools in a low spot overflows the front edge. Look for sections that dip, loose brackets or spikes, and rotted or soft fascia behind the gutter. Soft fascia is a repair that goes beyond the gutter.

3. Not enough capacity

A big or steeply pitched roof can send more water than one downspout and a small trough can handle. If gutters are clear, level and still overflow in heavy rain, ask a gutter company whether larger gutters or an added downspout fit your roof.

4. Where the downspout empties

Water that drops beside the house can soak the soil at the foundation. Nashville's Metro Water Services advises redirecting downspouts toward ground where water can soak in and away from hard surfaces (Nashville.gov). That is a Nashville page, but the principle is the same on any Franklin lot: send roof water away from the house, and never toward a neighbor's property.

5. Grading and drainage around the house

If soil slopes toward the house, or a low spot holds water after rain, the gutters are not the main problem. See water pooling beside your foundation for what to check.

Warning signs that need more than a gutter fix

• Rotted fascia or soffit
• Water stains on siding below the gutter line
• Mulch or soil washed away beside the foundation
• Water standing beside the house a day after rain
• Damp crawl space or basement after storms

Who handles what in Franklin

The City of Franklin directs drainage or flooding issues to its Streets Department at 615-791-3254 (City of Franklin). If your lot has a drainage or utility easement, the city says the easement is still your property and that you are responsible for general maintenance such as mowing and fixing erosion, while the city is not responsible for general maintenance (City of Franklin). Check your survey or plat for easements before changing grading or planting.

Hiring a gutter company

Verify the contractor's license number for larger jobs, ask for proof of insurance, get a written scope that lists gutter size and downspout count, and compare at least three bids on the same scope.

Find help

Browse siding and gutters companies or see Franklin service providers.