10 functional gutter alternatives that boost curb appeal

Experts agree that even with regular maintenance, most homes need gutter systems. But which homes can manage with gutter alternatives like rain chains, French drains, box gutters and yard grading?

Do you need gutters on your home?

Every expert I spoke to said gutters are essential to protect your home from standing water. However, certain gutter alternatives may also work in some cases and in climates with only a moderate amount of rain. However, if your home receives abundant rainfall and severe weather, you should ignore the alternatives and instead consider installing gutters on your home.

“Your gutter system is actually one of the most important and often overlooked systems in your home. Most homes absolutely need them,” said Niki O’Brien, an operations manager at Custom Exteriors in Colorado.

“Your roof collects a tremendous amount of water during rainstorms. Without a gutter system, that water travels down the slopes of your roof and pools below. This can cause damage to siding and paint as the water flows. But more importantly, it can cause structural damage or flooding if pooled water has nowhere to drain.”

10 functional gutter alternatives

Drip edge

Average cost: $2 - $9 per linear foot

A drip edge resembles a raised piece of flashing connected to your roof. It is installed just before the roof’s edge to help protect your fascia board and soffit from potential water damage. The drip edge helps funnel rainwater and direct it safely off your roof.

“The drip [edge] forms a small lip that directs water into the gutters or away from the home’s exterior, preventing water from getting behind the gutters and potentially causing damage to the fascia boards or other structural elements,” said Derek Perzylo, a co-owner of Big 5 Exteriors Ltd., an exterior services contractor in Alberta, Canada.

Pros

Cons

Drip path

Average cost: $380 - $700

“A drip path is made by placing pavers or blocks along the ground under the roof. They are typically sloped away from the home to allow the water to drain away from it,” O’Brien said. “In theory, this could help with drainage. However, a properly functioning gutter system is still a better solution.”

Drip paths control the water runoff at the ground level. They are affordable and easy to install for most homeowners. They can also double as a walkable path around your home.

Pros

Cons

Rain chain

Average cost: $27 - $86+

A rain chain is a series of cups, shapes or designs linked together that funnel water from your roof to the ground. They can be metal or other strong materials.

Rain chains can be beautiful additions, giving a waterfall effect and soothing sound during rain. However, heavy rain and severe weather are a challenge for this gutter alternative.

“When compared to regular gutters, rain chains are easier to maintain,” Perzylo said. “For the most part, this is because they are open, which lets water flow freely and prevents the buildup of debris that can happen with closed gutter systems.

“Because rain chains are built vertically, leaves and other debris are less likely to get stuck. This means that they don’t need to be cleaned and maintained as often. Also, because rain chains are visible, any problems can be seen right away and fixed right away if they need to be.”

Pros

Cons

French drain

Average cost: $2,930 - $10,500

French drains work similarly to drip paths and are installed around your home’s perimeter but can take up larger spaces if desired. They consist of a trench with a perforated pipe that funnels water.

They are effective in drawing water away from your home and foundation. However, they must be installed by a professional.

A French drain is a perforated drainage pipe buried in a gravel-filled trench installed around the perimeter of a basement foundation.

“It’s designed to collect water trickling down from your basement’s walls or leaking in through the wall-floor joint,” said Chad Spangler, a managing director of Groundworks, a foundation repair provider. “As water enters the trench, it flows through the gravel and into the perforated pipe and redirects it to your sump pump. French drains are effective in preventing water accumulation and foundation damage, ensuring homes remain healthy and dry.”

Pros

Cons

Box gutters

Average cost: $20 - $50 per linear foot

Box gutters are square or rectangular and larger than traditional gutters. They are concealed behind a wall and blend with your home’s exterior.

As they are partially shielded from the elements, they may require less maintenance but still have some risk of overflowing in heavy rainfall and may require gutter guards.

Pros

Cons

Yard grading

Average cost: $400 - $6,000

Yard grading and landscaping help prevent water pooling around your home’s foundation. Yard graders can shape land to slope down and away from the house, allowing water to flow away. This helps a home’s foundation, which should never be exposed to large amounts of water.

“Yard grading is a good way to stop erosion because it makes a gentle slope that keeps soil from washing away,” Perzylo said. “This method … keeps water from pooling or moving too quickly, which could move the soil, thanks to the gradual slope. Yard grading helps keep the soil in good shape and keeps landscaping safe by spreading water out over a larger area and controlling how fast it flows. This method works especially well in places where it rains a lot or on properties that tend to get wet.”

Pros

Cons

Built-in gutters

Average cost: $11 - $21+ per linear foot

Built-in gutters are part of your home’s roofline. Home builders install these seamless gutters during construction to match a home’s design and style.

“Because they are hidden, built-in gutters last longer because they don’t get worn down over time,” Perzylo said. “Built-in gutters are built into the roof, unlike external gutters that are out in the elements and could be damaged by falling branches or other debris.”

Pros

Cons

Rain dispersal system

Average cost: $3 - $6 per linear foot

A rain dispersal system consists of curved louvers made from aluminum, composite, fiberglass or vinyl. These slats attach along your roof’s edge. Water disperses as it flows over the louvers and onto the landscape below.

Pros

Cons

Permeable pavers

Average cost: $13 - $35 per square foot

Permeable pavers are paving stones with gaps between them that let rainwater wash through and soak into the ground. You can use them to prevent pooling water and keep your home’s foundation dry. They also give a pleasing look to your property.

Pros

Cons

Rain garden

Average cost: $8 - $14 per square foot

Proponents of rain gardens plant them on a slope so they can receive water runoff during a storm. The garden includes flowers and shrubs that thrive on rainwater. It also removes pollutants and chemicals from the water before it enters ponds and streams.

“Managing water is easier with rain gardens. By putting them in places where water naturally flows or gathers, you can use them to temporarily store and collect extra runoff, which will keep it from flooding drainage systems or causing erosion,” Perzylo said. These gardens can also soak up water runoff from driveways and other places where water won’t soak in.

Pros

Cons

Do gutter alternatives work?

In the same way gutters work best when paired with gutter guards, downspouts, extenders and French drains, gutter alternatives can function well when included as part of a larger system. However, gutter alternatives may fail when used in incompatible climates or when they are not supported by mechanisms like water basins, yard grading or similar options.

Take rain chains, for example.

“The [success] of rain chains depends largely on where you are located,” O’Brien said. “Colorado has a relatively dry climate. Rain chains can typically function just as well as a downspout during moderate to light rain.

She recently visited Costa Rica and witnessed a rain chain that did not work.

“[It is a] tropical climate prone to heavy downfalls, [and] the rain chain could not direct that water away from [a] foundation,” she says. “Water was flowing through the hole in the gutter and spilling everywhere, including pooling around the foundation of the building.”

In this case, O’Brien said, even though there is an alternative to a gutter system, a properly functioning gutter system is a much better way to drain water away from a home.

Gutter alternatives vs. traditional gutters

Deciding between gutter alternatives and traditional gutters depends on the amount of rainfall and severe weather you receive during the year, the cost of a system and personal preferences. This table may help you determine which one best suits you or if a combination of the two is best.

Bottom line

When comparing gutter alternatives and traditional gutter systems, traditional gutter systems win. Conventional gutters are more costly to install (about $2,300 on average) and require $75 to $450 in maintenance per year, but the benefits outweigh having to deal with water and mold damage and other repairs.

Many gutter alternatives function best in concert with a gutter system. This allows you flexibility to implement cost savings, add curb appeal and improve the environment while protecting your home from water damage.

FAQs