Commercial gutters in Lewiston, ID

A commercial roof sends far more water to each gutter and downspout than a house does, often from a large, low-slope roof that drains to just a few points. That calls for bigger gutter profiles, heavier material, larger downspouts, and sometimes box gutters or scuppers. Lewiston Rain Gutters installs and repairs gutters on commercial and multi-unit buildings across Lewiston.

Gutter problems on commercial buildings

On a commercial property, a gutter problem is often noticed first by tenants or customers, at the front door. These are the issues that usually lead to a call.

Water sheeting over the gutter at an entrance, soaking people on the way in
Ice on sidewalks and entries below downspouts or overflowing gutters in winter
Downspouts dumping across a parking lot or walkway instead of into a drain
Stains and efflorescence on brick, block, or storefront below overflowing sections
Ponding on a low-slope roof near a scupper or drain outlet that can't keep up
Leaking seams in box gutters showing up as ceiling stains inside along the exterior wall
Crushed downspouts at loading areas, drive lanes, and dumpster enclosures
Gutters bent or torn by snow sliding off a metal roof

What's different about commercial gutters

Larger profiles. Six-inch K-style is common on commercial buildings, and larger profiles are used where a big roof area drains to one run.

Box gutters. A rectangular gutter, sometimes built into or behind the roof edge, that carries more water than a K-style of the same width.

Scuppers and conductor heads. On buildings with parapet walls, water leaves the roof through an opening in the wall called a scupper and drops into a collector box, the conductor head, which feeds the downspout.

Heavier material and closer hangers. Longer runs, bigger loads, and more ladder and equipment contact call for stiffer metal and tighter hanger spacing.

Bigger downspouts. Larger downspouts move more water and are far less likely to clog under a big roof.

Planning a commercial gutter job around tenants and traffic

Site visit

We walk the building with the owner or manager, look at how each roof section drains, and note entrances, parking, and areas where people walk under the roof edge.
Size the system

Roof areas draining to each run are measured, and gutter size, downspout size, and outlet count are set to match. Existing scuppers and conductor heads are checked for capacity.
Plan access

Commercial work often needs a lift instead of ladders, and sometimes sidewalk or parking areas blocked off. We plan that with you around your entrances, tenants, and business hours.
Install

Old gutters come down, the roof edge and substrate are checked, and the new system is hung with the correct slope, sealed or soldered joints, and downspouts strapped to the wall.
Protect and test

Downspouts in traffic areas get impact protection at the bottom. Water is run through the system, and the work area is cleaned up.

Pricing commercial gutter work: system size and access

Commercial gutter pricing is driven by the size of the system and by access. A single-story retail building with open parking is a very different job from a three-story building on a busy sidewalk.

Linear footage and gutter profile: 6-inch K-style, larger profiles, or box gutters
Material and thickness of the metal
Building height and whether a lift is required
Number of downspouts, scuppers, and conductor heads
Access limits: sidewalks, traffic, tenants, and working hours
Removal of old gutters and repair of the roof edge or substrate
Drainage connections at the bottom of the downspouts
Impact protection for downspouts in drive and loading areas

We give you the scope and price after the site visit, so it can go to an owner, board, or tenant for approval.

Where commercial roof water goes in Lewiston

On a house, roof water usually ends up on the lawn. On a commercial lot, there often is no lawn, so downspouts are piped into underground drains, a parking lot drainage system, or a connection to the city's storm system.

The City of Lewiston operates its storm sewer system under a federal municipal stormwater permit issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, permit number IDS028061, which also covers Lewis-Clark State College. Permits like this require the city to manage what enters its storm drains.

What that means for a property owner: before changing where downspouts discharge, adding a new connection to a storm line, or sending roof water across a public sidewalk, check with the City of Lewiston about what's allowed and whether approval is needed. We'll tell you what we know when planning the job. Where the property already has approved drains, new downspouts can usually be routed into them.

Source: U.S. EPA Region 10, NPDES municipal separate storm sewer system permit IDS028061 for the City of Lewiston and Lewis-Clark State College.

Ice at the door

Lewiston averages only about two weeks a year of days that stay below freezing, but that's enough for a downspout discharging across a walkway to leave a sheet of ice at an entrance. On commercial properties that's a slip hazard for the public. Moving the outlet, extending it to a drain, or running it under the walk with a buried line, as described on our downspouts and drain lines page, removes the problem at its source.

Snow off metal roofs

Metal roofs can drop snow in large sheets. A gutter in the path of that slide can be bent or torn off. Snow retention on the roof is a roofing item, but gutter placement, profile, and hanger strength should be planned with it in mind.

Commercial gutter hazards to report right away

Call any hour if a gutter problem puts the public at risk or is letting water into the building. We'll tell you how soon we can get there.

A gutter or downspout has come loose above an entrance, sidewalk, or parking area
An overflowing gutter or downspout is icing over a public walkway
A box gutter or scupper is leaking into the building's walls or ceilings
Water is coming in through a storefront, door, or window below an overflowing section

Until we arrive, block off the area below any loose section with cones or tape, salt or sand any ice, and redirect entrances if needed. Don't send staff up ladders or onto the roof in wind or ice.

Call (208) 858-8002

Keeping a commercial gutter system working

Large roofs collect more debris, and a clogged commercial gutter overflows onto the busiest parts of the property. Plan cleaning at least once a year, and more often under trees; our gutter cleaning covers commercial buildings too. On buildings next to trees, gutter guards can cut down on how often that has to happen. If you also own residential property in town, our residential gutter work covers houses, and we work across the city; see areas we serve.

Questions from property managers and owners

What size gutters does a commercial building need?

It depends on the roof area draining to each run and how steep it is. Six-inch K-style is common, and larger profiles or box gutters are used where a big roof area drains to one edge. Downspout size and count are sized at the same time.

Do you install and repair box gutters?

Yes. Box gutters carry more water than K-style but have more seams and are often set into the roof edge, so leaks can show up inside the building. Repairs focus on the seams and the outlets.

What are scuppers and conductor heads?

A scupper is an opening through a parapet wall that lets water off a flat or low-slope roof. A conductor head is the box below it that collects that water and feeds it into the downspout. Both have to be sized to the roof they drain.

Can gutter work be done while the business is open?

Often, yes, with planning. Work areas below the roof edge have to be blocked off, and entrances or parking may need to be shifted for part of the day. Tell us your hours and busiest times when you call, and we'll plan the work around them.

Do you work on apartment and multi-unit buildings?

Yes. Multi-unit buildings often combine residential-style gutters with commercial-sized roofs and lots of foot traffic below, so they're planned like commercial jobs.

Schedule a site visit for your building

Call Lewiston Rain Gutters at (208) 858-8002. Tell us the building address, its height and roof type, what the gutters are doing now, and who should be our contact on site. We'll set up a site visit and give you a scope and price you can take to the owner or board.