Improper Run-Off Problem
Our house is part of a typical row of 1890s flat roofed 3-floor houses in BedStuy. The house next to ours has a rebuilt roof after a fire 2 years ago. Their cheesy contractors ignored the time-honored system of a banking up the back edge of the roof as a built in gutter, with a…
Our house is part of a typical row of 1890s flat roofed 3-floor houses in BedStuy. The house next to ours has a rebuilt roof after a fire 2 years ago. Their cheesy contractors ignored the time-honored system of a banking up the back edge of the roof as a built in gutter, with a drain running thru it. Instead, they hung an ordinary aluminum gutter below the back edge. It overflows even in moderate rain, and that overflow falls onto our extension roof, which was nicely redone in ’08. To be more precise, this overflow spatters onto the back WALL of our house. Last night at bed time I heard water dripping, and sure enough, discovered the drip inside the door pocket (parlor floor, double doors leading from rear parlor to the room in the extension). I never noticed a leak before, so I’ve kept my mouth shut about the runoff, as these particular neighbors are quite stupid and unfriendly. We never say more than hello anymore. I do intend to confront them about the current situation, but I’d like to prepare myself with a back-up plan when they are resistant to co-operating. Would this situation be one that requires something as simple as dialing 311 and reporting this to DOB? Other suggestions?
Thanks for the suggestions. I’m amazed it never occurred to me to put up a backsplash to deflect the water back onto them. Now I’m designing something that I can strap onto the side of my downspout, a metal panel with a slight curve at the bottom that will send their overflow water back onto their side. So, special thanks to putnamdenizen.
I couldn’t imagine trying to reason with these particular neighbors. The crap they dream up is boggling to say the least. Glad we have sweet neighbors on the other side.
I don’t know what the solution is, but you have my sympathy. Maybe talk to them first. I would also like to know what happens.
As for the gutters you describe, I always believed they were original and built into the cornice. If they were destroyed by fire, it would be natural to hang a new one off the edge of the roof.
In our case, the roofers lined our gutter with roofing material. I can’t help but think this could cause problems down the line with cracking and leaking, and I wonder what a better solution would be.
OP – will you please post how you end up resolving this? I’m curious to know.
Thanks.
i’d bet anything their gutter or is clogged. take a gander while you’re up there in the rain. i lived in a brownstone once a year without fail the gutter like this would clog. like clockwork. now i watch mine like a hawk, also the drain in the backyard.
Maly’s story could be mine. I did the same; I had a horrible overrun because their gutters are too short. I hired a man to fix their gutters. I found that talking to them was hopeless and joint problem solving was impossible so I just fixed it myself. I don’t even know if they realize it, and I don’t care just as long as I dont have water sheeting over the back of my building.
I have similar neighbors, nice enough but clueless, and I’ve found it impossible to fix anything even when it was in their self-interest. Some people really just don’t think or plan ahead, and it just ends up aggravating me. You can either get the overflow fixed on your own dime, or call your insurance, fix it on theirs and let them decide if it’s worth it to them to sue your neighbors.
Either way, it will be faster and more satisfying than fighting with your neighbors.
Just call 311. All drainage is required to say on their property and be disposed of properly. The gutter at the very least is not sized properly. Who knows how much damage is hidden behind your walls. At the very least do the backsplash.
Jock deBoer, AIA
deBoer Architects
Could you fashion a “backsplash” to redirect water off your property? I am envisioning some sort of metal plate that extends out from your wall next to their gutter, redirecting water onto their wall? You might also check to see if their downspout is clogged.