Service
Gutter Installation
Location
Tualatin
Material
Aluminum
System
6K Seamless
What We Found
Large-Scale Senior Care Facility Gutter Replacement & Drainage System Upgrade
Some projects are about replacing old gutters. Others require solving fundamental design problems that have caused years of water intrusion, overflow, and premature system failure. Our project at Prestige Senior Living – Riverwood fell into the second category.
​
This large commercial gutter replacement required far more than simply removing worn-out gutters and installing new ones. The existing drainage system had inherent design flaws dating back to the original construction, and years of Oregon weather had exposed those weaknesses. The result was widespread rust, chronic overflow, standing water inside the gutter system, and uncontrolled rainwater running down multiple stories of the building.
​
Our objective was straightforward: design and install a commercial rainwater management system that would properly drain, increase capacity, protect the building, and provide decades of reliable performance.
The Challenge
.webp)
The Original Fascia Gutter System
The building was originally equipped with a steel fascia-style gutter system featuring a rear lip that served as the roof flashing. At the time of construction, no separate drip edge or flashing had been installed. Instead, the gutter itself was intended to function as both the gutter and the flashing system.
​
While this style of installation was common on many commercial buildings and residential homes years ago, it presents several long-term problems that become increasingly apparent as buildings age.
The rear lip of the gutter had been installed directly over the top of the fascia board rather than extending properly onto the roof decking. This installation method effectively locked the gutter into the exact pitch of the roofline.​
​This creates one of the biggest problems with fascia-style gutters featuring a rear lip:​ The installer cannot properly slope the gutter toward the outlets.
​
Instead of establishing positive drainage, the gutter simply follows whatever slope the roof happens to have. As the building naturally settles over time—which every structure does—the gutters begin following those settlement patterns instead of draining toward the downspouts.
​
The result is predictable.​ Water remains inside the gutter after every rainfall and during Oregon's long rainy season, these gutters rarely dry out completely. Standing water becomes a permanent condition rather than an occasional occurrence.
Built-in Flaws. Predictable Failure
Why This Design Frequently Fails
Many older fascia-style gutter systems were manufactured from galvanized steel.
Steel performs well when it can dry between storms. It performs much less favorably when it holds standing water for months at a time.
As water continually sits inside the gutter:
​
-
Rust begins attacking the protective coating.
-
Corrosion spreads across seams and low spots.
-
Small leaks become larger failures.
-
The gutter weakens structurally.
-
Overflow becomes more frequent.
-
Service life is dramatically shortened.
​
Eventually the bottom of the gutter simply rusts through. That is exactly what had occurred throughout portions of the Riverwood property. The original gutter system had reached the point where corrosion was no longer isolated to a few locations—it had become a systemic failure affecting the performance of the entire drainage system.
When Drainage Fails, Damage Follows
Overflow That Was Affecting the Building
The deterioration wasn't only cosmetic.Because the original gutter system could not be properly sloped, heavy Oregon rainfall regularly overwhelmed the system.
​
Instead of efficiently carrying water toward the downspouts, water would pond inside the gutters until it spilled over the front edge.
On a two-story senior living facility, that creates significant problems.
Rainwater poured over the gutters directly in front of resident windows, creating continuous sheets of water during storms. At ground level, thousands of gallons of runoff repeatedly saturated the areas surrounding the foundation rather than being directed safely into the drainage system.
​
This kind of uncontrolled water can contribute to:
-
Foundation saturation
-
Soil erosion
-
Splash-back against siding
-
Premature deterioration of exterior finishes
-
Increased maintenance costs
-
Poor resident experience during heavy rainfall
​
Simply repairing sections of the old gutter system would not have addressed these underlying design flaws.
The entire drainage strategy needed to be re-engineered.
The Ironclad Solution
Our Solution
Ironclad Gutter Co. developed a complete commercial gutter replacement designed to solve both the immediate failures and the underlying engineering limitations of the original installation.
The project included:
​
-
Complete commercial gutter replacement
-
Continuous drip flashing installation along the entire roofline
-
New 6-inch seamless aluminum gutters
-
Oversized 3x4 aluminum downspouts
-
3x4 downspout cleanouts for underground drain protection
-
Properly sloped gutter installation throughout the property
​
One of the most important improvements was the installation of continuous drip flashing.Rather than relying on the gutter itself to act as the roof flashing, the new drip edge creates a dedicated transition between the roofing system and the gutters. This allows each component to perform the job it was designed for: the flashing protects the roof edge and the gutter manages the rainwater.
​
Separating these functions allows the gutter to be positioned independently and, most importantly, allows it to be installed with the proper slope toward every outlet.
A new gutter system does more than improve appearance - it protects the structure behind your property.
More Capacity. Better Protection.
Why We Chose 6K Gutters
For a building of this size, increasing water capacity was essential. The new 6K seamless aluminum gutter system provides significantly greater water-carrying capacity than the original fascia gutters while offering superior resistance to corrosion.
Unlike steel, aluminum does not rust. Combined with proper pitch, the new system drains quickly after storms instead of holding standing water for extended periods.
The flat-back profile also gives installers complete control over the gutter elevation, making it possible to establish continuous positive drainage regardless of the roof's original pitch or years of structural settlement.
Instead of forcing the gutter to follow the roofline, the gutter can now follow the correct drainage path.
That difference dramatically improves long-term performance.
More Capacity. Better Control.
Oversized Downspouts For Better Water Management
A high-capacity gutter system performs best when paired with equally capable downspouts.
​
For this project, we installed oversized 3x4 aluminum downspouts to move water efficiently from the roof to the building's underground drainage system. Each downspout was also equipped with a 3x4 cleanout.
These cleanouts allow maintenance personnel to easily remove debris and flush underground drain lines without dismantling the downspout system.
For commercial properties, this simple addition can significantly reduce maintenance time while helping protect underground drainage infrastructure from blockages.
A Complete System. A Lasting Solution.
The Result
Following installation, the Riverwood facility received a completely modernized commercial rainwater management system designed for the Pacific Northwest. The new system provides:​
-
Properly sloped gutters that fully drain
-
Significantly increased water capacity
-
Corrosion-resistant seamless aluminum construction
-
Dedicated drip flashing for roof-edge protection
-
Oversized commercial downspouts
-
Underground drain cleanout access
-
Improved protection for foundations, windows, and exterior finishes
-
Reduced maintenance requirements
-
A longer-lasting commercial gutter system built for Oregon weather
​
What had once been a drainage system that routinely overflowed and retained water has been transformed into one that efficiently manages heavy rainfall while protecting the building for years to come.
Built for Scale. Engineered to Perform.
Commercial Gutter Replacement Done Right
Commercial gutter systems are far more than an architectural feature—they are a critical part of protecting the entire building envelope.
​
At Ironclad Gutter Co., we routinely evaluate not only the condition of existing gutters but also the engineering decisions behind their original installation. When necessary, we redesign those systems to improve drainage, increase capacity, and eliminate recurring failure points rather than simply replacing old materials with new ones.
​
Whether it's a senior living community, apartment complex, HOA, commercial facility, or specialty residential property, our goal is always the same: install a gutter system that performs reliably through decades of Pacific Northwest weather.
​
Projects like Prestige Senior Living – Riverwood demonstrate the value of combining technical expertise, thoughtful design, and quality craftsmanship to solve complex drainage problems—not just temporarily, but for the long term.
