Frost Heave and Your Gutters: An Alaska Love Story (Sort Of)

Your house is not a fan of surprise lifts

Frost heave is when the ground freezes, swells and pushes up on whatever sits on top of it, including your foundation, steps and slabs. Then it thaws and everything settles back, not always in the same spot. Do that for a few winters and small problems get bigger.

The recipe for frost heave

Frost heave needs three things at once:

1. Freezing temperatures (Alaska has those covered)
2. Frost-susceptible soil, like silt and clay, which hold water
3. Water

You cannot do much about the first two. The third is where gutters come in.

Where your roof’s water goes

A roof collects a surprising amount of water. Without working gutters and downspouts, all of it pours off the edge and soaks the soil right beside your foundation. Wet soil freezes harder and deeper, and every freeze-thaw cycle magnifies small drainage mistakes.

Gutter problems that make it worse

• Clogged gutters that overflow over the edge
• Missing or too-short downspouts that dump water at the wall
• Ice dams that push meltwater behind the fascia
• Gutters with poor slope, or sections that have pulled away

How far should water go?

Building code in areas with soils like these calls for roof water to discharge at least 5 feet from foundation walls, or into an approved drainage system. A good rule of thumb is 4 to 6 feet or more, and longer if the ground slopes toward your house.

Ways to get there:

• Downspout extensions
• Splash blocks
• Underground drain pipe that carries water away
• Grading the soil so it slopes away from the house

Keep extensions from crossing walkways, steps or entries, where they can leave puddles and winter ice.

A quick look around your house

On the next rainy day, step outside (with a coat) and check:

• Is water spilling over the gutter edge?
• Do downspouts drain away from the house, or right at the wall?
• Is there pooling next to the foundation?

If you spot trouble, it is much easier to fix before the ground freezes than after.

Want us to take a look? Request an estimate and we will check your gutters and downspouts.