Hide The Eyesore Of Downspouts & Boost Curb Appeal With This Gorgeous DIY Solution

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Rain gutters are an essential exterior component of every home. They connect to downspouts, carrying rainwater away from the roof and delivering it to the ground. It's recommended that these spouts be aimed far enough away from the home that water doesn't seep in around the base, causing leaks or flooding in the foundation. While crucial in protecting the home, the downside to these useful tools is their blatant lack of aesthetic appeal that visibly detracts from outside decor efforts. Fortunately, there's a solution to camouflage the eyesore of eavestrough extensions — all you need is a sidewalk arbor and some DIY ingenuity. By laying the gutter over the archway and down the side, you can move the downspout out of the way and out of sight.

If you're looking for creative ways to increase your home's curb appeal, this is a great place to start. There's no set blueprint for this project; it could be completely tailored to suit your style and the dimensions of your space. The key is to build it close enough to the side of the house so the end sits under the existing gutter. You can then you connect the new run and drape the spout over the arch. The design helps in two ways: by moving water farther away from the foundation and by creating an attractive outdoor feature to draw attention away from the mundane fixture. Best of all, it's a DIY you can customize with paint, trim, or trellis to fit your outdoor design. To get started, measure the width of the walkway and determine how wide and tall you want your arch. With that, you'll know how much extra gutter you'll need to lay over the top of it and the amount of building supplies to pick up.

To build your own DIY downspout arch, you'll need a few items from the hardware store, including 2-by-4s, trellis (or another connecting material of your choice), piping extensions (like the Amerimax Home Products extensions at Home Depot), metal adapter straps (like hinbkenla Downspout Straps), and any paint or stain you want to add. You'll need to choose the right type of gutters to match the setup you have currently and a few elbow connections to move the water over the arch. With supplies in hand, you're ready to start.

Measure and cut four boards to the height you'd prefer and four to the arch's width. Cut two smaller boards to connect these rectangular frames at the top and bottom, and screw everything into place so it is freestanding. Use a trellis to cover the sides and top. If you want to simplify and experiment with the design, you can also use pre-decorated options, like Kandishiex Faux Ivy Fence, in place of the trellis. Paint or stain the wood, and don't forget a waterproof sealant to protect your creation from the elements. Then, carefully disconnect the downspout piping to divert it over the arch. Measure and cut the downspout extension lengths you'll need to go over the arch, and connect the elbows to make the new run. Use a level to give the gutter a slight downward angle and keep water moving in the right direction over the arch. Screw on the straps to hold the piping in place. Now, you can say goodbye to the eyesore of downspouts with a sleek DIY solution that also adds significant curb appeal.