If your gutters are overflowing and eroding your yard, or if you don’t want gutters at all, you should consider installing a drip path. A drip path can catch the rainwater coming off your gutters and drain it without splashing it back onto your home’s foundation. If you want to know how to install a drip path, you have come to the right place.
What Is a Drip Path?
A drip path is a paved or semi-permeable surface like crushed rock that runs around the foundation of a home, directly below the roofline, to catch rainwater that falls off the gutters or roof. All that water tends to pound the ground below, eroding the soil, ponding around the foundation, and splashing mud onto the side of the house. The idea of a drip path is to create a surface that catches and directs the water away from the house.
If you don’t have gutters or your gutters can’t handle the excess water flow, a drip path is a simple, low-tech way of dealing with cascading rainwater. And as a bonus, it can serve as a nice visual touch in your landscaping.
Note: Drip paths are sometimes called drip edges, but that also is the name for part of a roof that directs water away from the fascia and into the gutter.
Pros and Cons of a Drip Path
Here are the pros and cons of installing a drip path.
Pros:
- Cost-effective alternative to gutters. If you don’t live in a rainy area and your house has a large roof overhang, you will be good with a drip path and won’t need gutters.
- Prevent foundation damage. Installing a drip path will prevent water from soaking into the soil, thus protecting your home’s foundation from water damage.
- Easy to set up. Installing a drip path is a fairly simple DIY job.
Cons:
- Can’t replace gutters. If you live in a rainy region, it’s necessary that you install gutters to protect your home from water damage. A drip path won’t be able to handle the excess water runoff.
- Must be on the correct slope. A drip path will be effective only if you slope it correctly. If not, the water will overflow.
Tools and Materials Needed
Installing a drip path is a relatively simple DIY job. Here are the tools and materials needed:
- Shovel or hoe
- Measuring tape
- Protective eyewear
- Hand or machine saw
- Hammer
- Gravel
- Landscaping fabric or plastic sheet (optional)
- Metal landscape edging
There are three different metals you can use for drip edging.
- Aluminum
- Galvanized steel
- Copper
Aluminum and galvanized steel typically cost $5 per 10 linear feet, while copper costs $65 per 10 linear feet. We recommend aluminum because it doesn’t rust and it comes in various colors. Copper looks attractive and doesn’t corrode, but it’s quite expensive for an edging material.
Step-By-Step Instructions To Install a Drip Path
Follow these step-by-step instructions to install a drip path around your home.
Step 1: Find the Areas That Need a Drip Path
Identify areas of soil erosion and install a drip path there. Even if there’s no soil erosion, install a drip path wherever you notice mud splashes on your home’s foundation or wooden deck to prevent expensive repairs.
Step 2: Determine the Layout
The gap between your home’s foundation and the outer edge of the drip path should be at least 30 inches. If the roof overhang is longer, you may have to extend the distance to 40 inches. The rule of thumb is that there should be enough space for water falling off the roof to collect on the drip path.
Once you determine the layout, we recommend you outline the path with spray paint to delineate your work area.
Step 3: Excavate
Dig 6 to 9 inches into the soil using a shovel or hoe and level the ground. If there’s basement flooding, you may install a landscape fabric or plastic sheet as it prevents the water from soaking into the ground. If not, avoid using landscape fabric because it can harm your soil’s health.
Note: Basement flooding is a serious issue, so we recommend fixing the primary cause of it to prevent expensive repairs. In most cases, an improper drainage system, downspout failure, or broken sump pump will be the reason behind basement flooding.
Step 4: Measure the Drip Path and Cut the Metal
Measure the length of the drip path to know how much material you need. Use a hand or machine saw to cut the metal edging.
If your drip path is not in a straight line, you’ll need to measure the length of each section and cut the metal accordingly. Here are two ways to connect metal edging at the corner.
- Cut the metal at the corner and connect two metals using a corner piece.
- Score three-quarters of the metal at the intersection points (corner) and bend it to fit.
Note: Don’t forget to wear protective eyewear and soundproof earplugs, especially when using a machine saw to cut the metal.
Step 5: Install Edging
Install the edging where you sprayed a line and secure it with spikes. After installing the edging, ensure the soil on the other side isn’t too high. If it’s too high, dig it down an inch to keep the mud out of your drip path.
We recommend you use a level to check if the edging is on a straight line. If it’s inclined, add some spikes to bring it to a straight line.
Step 6: Lay Gravel
Last but not least, lay rocks on your drip path. Choose medium-sized or crushed stones that allow water to drain. Apply enough stones, at least three inches deep, to prevent them from being washed away by water.
Here are the best types of gravel to use in your drip path.
- Crushed stone gravel
- Jersey Shore gravel
- Bank run gravel
The gravel you choose should be at least 2 to 4 inches wide.
Check out this video for a visual representation of installing a drip path.
FAQs
There are two reasons why water overflows from gutters:
• Debris buildup: If you don’t clean your gutters twice a year, they’ll become clogged with debris and cause water to overflow.
• Undersized gutters: If your rain gutters are too small, they won’t be able to handle water runoff from your roof, causing water to overflow. Follow our guide to find the right gutter size for your home.
Drip paths don’t require any significant maintenance. If you have a lot of trees in your yard, debris might build up on them. If that’s the case, blow the leaves off the path twice a week.
If you don’t want your drip path to look too plain, lay organic mulch around it and grow some flowering plants and shrubs to turn it into a garden bed.
DIY or Hire a Pro
A drip path catches the water falling off your roof and gutters and drains it without splashing it back onto your home’s foundation. You can install a drip path on places where you notice soil erosion.
Installing a drip path is a DIY job, but if you don’t have experience excavating soil or cutting metal, you should leave it to the professionals. MyGutterGnome can connect you with local pros to assist you in installing a drip path and help you with everything related to gutters.
Main Image Credit: Pridannikov / Canva Pro / License
