Nothing is more annoying than having to walk through a waterfall coming off your roof to reach the front door every time it rains.

Fortunately, there’s an easy and inexpensive solution to the problem.

Installing gutters is a common way to handle rain running off a roof — and make life a little easier the next time you come home during a downpour!

But if your house doesn’t have gutters, you can install a rain diverter.

A rain diverter — which is available at home improvement centers — is a specially made piece of metal flashing used to divert rainwater away from a doorway. You can also get supplies and make your own rain diverter.

This not only keeps you from getting wet but also prevents the door from deteriorating.

Want stylish protection? Use white vinegar to etch the galvanized metal and then paint the rain diverter.

Steps to install a rain diverter on your roof:

  1. Start by cutting the flashing with tin snips about 2-3 feet longer than the doorway you want to protect.
  2. Use white vinegar to etch the galvanized metal before painting it to match the color of the roof.
  3. Center the diverter over the area to be covered using a plumb bob or a string with a weight attached.
  4. Using a pry bar or putty knife, loosen the second row of shingles up from the edge of the roof where the diverter will be located.
  5. Carefully break the seal on a row of shingles above the doorway with a flat pry bar or putty knife.
  6. Slide the diverter under the row of loosened shingles.
  7. Tilt the rain diverter in the direction you would like the water to flow by angling one side down slightly.
  8. Carefully lift up the shingle tabs to keep from breaking them, and nail the diverter in place with roofing nails. Position the nails so they will be covered by the shingles and are a few inches up from the bottom edge of the overlapping shingles.
  9. Dab roofing cement on the nail heads, under each shingle tab, and in any gaps between the shingles to keep water from getting underneath the diverter.
  10. Press the shingles down to seal them back in place.
  11. Now you won’t get soaked on the way to the mailbox when it rains!
  12. Be sure and clean behind the rain diverter from time to time to keep leaves and other debris from building up.

Watch the video and follow the step-by-step guide for more information! 


Further Information

Editorial Contributors
avatar for Danny Lipford

Danny Lipford

Founder

Danny Lipford is a home improvement expert and television personality who started his remodeling business, Lipford Construction, at the age of 21 in Mobile, Alabama. He gained national recognition as the host of the nationally syndicated television show, Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford, which started as a small cable show in Mobile. Danny's expertise in home improvement has also led him to be a contributor to popular magazines and websites and the go-to source for advice on everything related to the home. He has made over 200 national television appearances and served as the home improvement expert for CBS's The Early Show and The Weather Channel for over a decade. Danny is also the founder of 3 Echoes Content Studio, TodaysHomeowner.com, and Checking In With Chelsea, a décor and lifestyle blog.

Learn More