If you've lived in the Pacific Northwest for more than one rainy season, you already know how relentless the rainfall can be. From October through April, water is a constant presence — and without a properly functioning gutter and drainage system, that water can quietly cause thousands of dollars in damage to your home. At Kory's General Contracting, we work with homeowners across Vancouver, WA and Portland, OR to make sure their properties are ready to handle whatever the sky throws at them.
Your gutters do a job that most people don't think about until something goes wrong. They collect rainwater that runs off your roof and direct it away from your home's foundation, siding, and landscaping. When gutters are clogged, sagging, improperly pitched, or simply too small for your roof's square footage, water spills over the edges and pools right where you don't want it — directly against your home. Over time, this leads to foundation erosion, basement flooding, wood rot, mold growth, and damaged landscaping. These are serious, expensive problems that are almost entirely preventable with the right system in place.
One of the most common issues we see is gutters that haven't been cleaned or maintained in years. Leaves, twigs, moss, and debris build up and block the flow of water. This is especially common here in the Northwest, where mature trees are everywhere and moss grows aggressively. Even a small blockage can cause water to back up under your roofline, leading to fascia board rot and interior water intrusion. We always recommend having your gutters cleaned at least twice a year — once in late fall after the leaves have dropped and once in early spring.
Beyond cleaning, gutter guards are a popular upgrade that many of our clients find worthwhile. Gutter guards are covers or screens that sit over the top of your gutters and allow water to flow in while keeping debris out. They won't eliminate maintenance entirely, but they significantly reduce how often your gutters need attention. For homeowners with tall trees nearby or multi-story homes where gutter cleaning is difficult and potentially dangerous, guards can be a smart long-term investment.
Another solution we frequently install is seamless gutters. Unlike sectional gutters that come in pieces joined together, seamless gutters are custom-fabricated on-site to fit your home's exact measurements. Because they have no seams along their length — only at the corners and downspout connections — they are far less likely to leak. They also tend to look cleaner and more polished from the street. If your current gutters are aging, leaking at the joints, or pulling away from the fascia, replacing them with seamless gutters is often the most cost-effective long-term choice.
Downspouts are the other critical piece of the puzzle. It's not enough to have great gutters if your downspouts are dropping water right next to your foundation. We recommend that downspouts extend at least six feet away from your home and discharge onto a sloped surface that directs water further away. Downspout extensions, buried drain lines, and pop-up emitters are all options we can install depending on your property's layout and drainage needs.
For homes with more serious drainage challenges, we also offer yard drainage solutions. French drains are one of the most effective tools available — a trench filled with gravel and a perforated pipe that collects groundwater and channels it away from problem areas. If you have a low spot in your yard that turns into a pond every winter, or water consistently seeping toward your foundation or garage, a French drain could be exactly what you need. Catch basins and channel drains are also excellent options for driveways, patios, and other paved surfaces where water collects.
Every property is a little different, and that's why we always start with a thorough assessment. We look at your roof's size and pitch, the age and condition of your existing gutters, where water is currently going, and where it needs to go instead. From there, we can recommend a complete solution that fits your home and your budget.
Proper drainage isn't glamorous, but it is one of the most important investments you can make in your home's long-term health. Water damage that goes unaddressed almost always gets worse and more expensive over time. The good news is that with the right gutters and drainage system in place, you can stop worrying about every rainstorm and trust that your home is protected.
If you're noticing signs of poor drainage — water stains on your foundation, soggy patches in your yard, gutters pulling away from the roofline, or water getting into your crawl space or basement — don't wait. Reach out to Kory's General Contracting today. We're licensed, bonded, and insured, and we're here to help homeowners throughout the Vancouver, WA and Portland, OR area stay dry, protected, and confident in their homes.