Gutter Glossary
Gutter Elbow
An angled fitting — typically 45° or 90° — used to redirect a downspout around an eave, soffit, or wall obstacle, or to angle the terminal end away from the building foundation.
What is a Gutter Elbow?
An angled fitting — typically 45° or 90° — used to redirect a downspout around an eave, soffit, or wall obstacle, or to angle the terminal end away from the building foundation. Gutter elbows (sometimes called offsets or bends) are short, angled sections of downspout material that change the direction of water flow in the downspout run.
Full Definition
Gutter elbows (sometimes called offsets or bends) are short, angled sections of downspout material that change the direction of water flow in the downspout run. The most common application is at the top of a downspout run, where two elbows in sequence create an offset that moves the downspout from the gutter outlet (which is recessed under the eave) to the wall face so the straight downspout sections can run flush against the siding. A single 45° elbow at the bottom of the run directs discharge away from the foundation.
Elbows are sized to match the downspout cross-section — 2x3, 3x4, or 3-inch round — and are available in A-style (short-side profile, tightest turn radius) and B-style (long-side profile, gradual turn). B-style elbows allow debris to pass more freely and are preferred at the top of the run where leaf and needle accumulation is most likely to cause clogs.
In retrofit work, adding elbows to an existing downspout run is often the simplest fix for a discharge point that is too close to a window well, foundation vent, or landscaping feature. Elbows are sealed to adjacent sections with sheet metal screws and gutter sealant to prevent leaks at the joint.
Also Known As
- downspout elbow
- downspout offset
- downspout bend
Related Terms
Downspout
The vertical pipe that carries water from the gutter trough to the ground or drainage system, sized to match the volume capacity of the gutter run it serves.
Downspout Extension
An add-on at the bottom of a downspout that carries roof runoff 4–10 or more feet away from the foundation — a critical foundation protection measure in Sacramento's clay-soil conditions.
Splash Block
A small concrete or plastic pad placed under a downspout outlet to disperse water flow and prevent soil erosion and foundation undermining at the discharge point.
K-Style Gutter
The most common residential gutter profile in the US, with a flat back, decorative ogee-shaped front face, and rectangular cross-section that holds more water per linear foot than half-round gutters of equivalent size.
Seamless Gutter
A gutter formed on-site from a single continuous coil of aluminum or steel, with no joints along the gutter run — only at corners and downspout outlets — which dramatically reduces leak points compared to sectional gutters.
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