Gutters in Lake Mary, FL

Florida's residential code requires gutters with downspouts where eaves project less than 6 inches. Gable end rakes and a roof above another roof are not covered by that requirement. Each downspout must empty at least 1 foot from the sidewall, through buried pipe, a tail extension or a splash block.

That 1-foot rule sits in a termite-protection section, so it protects more than your slab. About 55.8 percent of Lake Mary's housing units are single-family detached homes, so most roofs here shed water onto their own yard. Check that the runout slopes away and does not dump onto a walkway or a neighbor's line.

Soldiers Creek runs through Lake Mary and is periodically subject to flooding, and the city protects the land around it as open space. Gutters do not stop creek flooding. They keep roof water from adding to a wet yard, so send leaders well past the foundation.

Live oaks drop leaves and pollen on a rhythm, and pine needles peak from September through November. A sensible schedule is after the spring oak drop, before the June to September storms, and after the autumn needle fall. Heavy canopy means more often.

The median home here was built in 1997, which suggests many original gutters are well past 25 years old. Code calls for metal or approved plastic, with lapped, soldered or caulked joints, fastened with corrosion-resistant fasteners. Loose hangers and sagging runs are the first things to look for.

Roof permits in Lake Mary go through the City of Lake Mary Building Division. If gutter work comes with a re-roof, confirm with that office whether it falls under the roof permit. After the 2017 storm, about 4,939 of 7,125 assessed Seminole County homes were affected, so firm hangers matter.