Box gutter and oversized profiles
Where residential tops out at 6-inch K-style, commercial work runs box gutter fabricated to the dimension the roof area needs — 7, 8 inches and up, in heavier gauge aluminum or steel.
We fabricate to the building rather than pulling a stock profile off a shelf. On older St. Louis commercial buildings with built-in gutters at the parapet, that's the only way it works.
Buildings we work on
Apartment and multi-family properties, where a property manager needs the whole complex done on a schedule that doesn't disrupt residents. Churches, which tend to have steep roofs, tall runs, and details worth preserving. Retail strips and offices, where the water has to stay off the sidewalk and out of the entry. Warehouses and light industrial, where the roof area is large and the drainage is the whole engineering problem.
Multi-building properties get phased so parking and access stay usable.
Drainage capacity
The math is roof area, rainfall intensity, and outlet size. Undersized drainage on a commercial roof doesn't just overflow — it backs up onto a low-slope membrane and ponds, which is how a gutter problem becomes a roof problem.
We size conductor heads and downspouts to the actual contributing area, not to what was there before. What was there before is frequently why you're calling.
Working with your schedule
Property managers get a single point of contact, a written scope, and phased scheduling. Occupied buildings get staging that keeps entries and fire lanes clear.
We carry commercial general liability and workers' comp, and we'll send certificates before we mobilize.
Sizing for big roof areas
Commercial roofs move a lot of water to a few exit points. A low-slope roof drains toward scuppers and conductor heads, and every downspout below them has to carry runoff from a large area during the kind of short, heavy downpours St. Louis gets in summer. Undersized outlets are the most common reason a commercial gutter overflows, and water spilling over the edge of a building ends up on entries, sidewalks and parking areas.
Common problems we fix on commercial buildings
Conductor heads clogged with debris, box gutter liners rusting through at the seams, scuppers that have separated from the wall, and downspouts crushed at the bottom by delivery trucks, carts or snow plows. Where a downspout keeps getting hit, we can add protection at the base or move the downspout. Where a box gutter is failing, we'll lay out the options for relining or replacing it.
Ongoing maintenance for property managers
For apartment complexes, HOAs and multi-building properties, we can schedule regular cleanings and inspections and send a photo report after each visit, so you know the condition of every building without climbing a ladder. When the roof needs attention too, our commercial roofing team handles it.
Relining or replacing a box gutter
Box gutters on commercial and institutional buildings often outlast the liner inside them. When the liner rusts or splits at the seams, water gets into the wall and the masonry below. If the box itself is sound, relining is often the most economical fix. If the framing has rotted or the gutter is undersized for the roof, replacing it is the better long-term answer. We'll inspect it, photograph what we find and lay out both options with what each one involves.
Keeping water off entries and sidewalks
Overflowing gutters and badly placed downspouts dump water at doorways, on sidewalks and in parking areas. On a commercial property that means slick walking surfaces, ice in winter and stained storefronts. Moving a downspout, upsizing an outlet or extending discharge underground usually solves it. For churches, schools and apartment buildings with heavy foot traffic, it's one of the most worthwhile fixes on the property.
Commercial gutter work, start to finish
Every commercial project starts with a walk of the roof and the ground below it. We note each scupper, conductor head, box gutter and downspout, where the water discharges, and any spots where it's ending up on entries, sidewalks or neighboring property. You get a written report with photos and a scope that separates urgent repairs from upgrades that can be planned and budgeted.
When the work is scheduled, we plan staging, lifts and work areas around the building's hours and its occupants. Older material is hauled away, the site is cleaned up each day, and every outlet is water-tested before we sign off. For property managers with several buildings, we can phase the work across a season or a budget year and keep the documentation for each building in one place.
Who we work with
We work with property managers, HOA boards, church facilities committees, school districts, building owners and general contractors across the St. Louis metro and the Metro East. Whether it's one leaking downspout on a storefront or the drainage for a whole apartment complex, you get a clear scope, photos of the before and after, and one point of contact from the first walk-through to the final water test. Call (314) 429-6000 to schedule a site visit.
Questions people ask
Do you work on apartment complexes?
Regularly. Multi-building properties get phased so residents keep their parking and access.
Can you fabricate custom box gutter?
Yes, sized and formed to the building. Older St. Louis commercial buildings almost always need custom.
Do you handle church roofs?
We do. Steep pitches and tall elevations need the right equipment, and the details on an older church are usually worth preserving rather than replacing.
Are you insured for commercial work?
Yes — general liability and workers' comp, with certificates available before mobilization.
Do you also do the commercial roof?
John Beal Roofing does commercial roofing as well, so edge details and gutter can be handled by one contractor.
Can you work around tenants and business hours?
Yes. We plan staging and work hours around tenants, entrances and parking so the property stays open.
Can you replace downspouts damaged by vehicles?
Yes. We replace the damaged section and can add protection at the base or relocate the downspout away from traffic.
Can you match an existing building's color?
We carry a range of baked-enamel colors and will match the closest one to your existing trim or metal.
Free estimate
We measure, we look at the fascia, and you get a number in writing.
Talk to a real St. Louis gutter company
Third generation, family-run since 1947. Somebody picks up, day or night.
Need the roof done along with the gutters? John Beal Roofing has a site dedicated to commercial work: flat and low-slope systems, multi-family, church, HOA, warehouse and retail roofs. See our St. Louis commercial roofing site.