Gutters Built Into Roof

Dating back to the 18th century yankee gutters consist of a v or u shaped wooden trough lined with metal usually copper or terne coated steel that directs water away from the house.

Gutters built into roof.

Eaves trough gutters may project forward from the lower roof edge shown in the sketch below or they may be virtually hidden from view from ground level when they are built into the slope of the roof. They can be a very effective way of managing the flow of water especially on large roofs or complicated water drainage concerns. I always try to encourage preserving original elements even though it might be easier to eliminate the old method for something new and inexpensive. If the integral gutter is a nearly flat extension out over the roof edge also forming a soffit i d think about leaving the built in or integral gutter system in place removing any.

Integral gutter eaves trough gutter built in gutter. The gutter is built into the roof structure itself as a trough see illustration below. Built in gutter systems are actually built into the cornice structure and drain through internal or external leaders. Yankee gutters are a drainage system inconspicuously built into the roof so that it isn t visible along the roofline of the house.

Instead of hacking off a structurally sound or easily made sound eaves trough or integral gutter that is built into the roof surface you can just roof over it. These systems are integrated into the design of the roofing structure. They are not readily visible from the ground further lending to the mystery of their design and function. Built in gutter gutters.