Ogutter Splash Blocks for Gutters Downspouts, 24" Downspout Extensions for Rain Water Drainage, Thickened Gutter Splash Guard with Fixing Piles

Why I tried this splash block

After another spring storm pushed water right back toward my foundation, I wanted a simple, low-maintenance way to manage runoff at a couple of downspouts. Flexible extensions work, but they’re not always pretty and they can get in the way of mowing. I picked up the Ogutter splash block (model OG017) because it offered a sturdy, low-profile alternative with a built-in slope and the option to pin it in place. I’ve used it for several weeks through hose testing, steady rain, and one heavy downpour.

Design and build quality

The splash block arrives in a two-piece, “split” design that snaps together in seconds. Once assembled, it locks up surprisingly well—no wobble or misalignment. The top surface has a gentle 15° slope that carries water away from the foundation, and the channel is wide enough to catch the full discharge from a typical 2x3 or 3x4 downspout without splatter.

Materials matter a lot for outdoor hardware. This block is molded from thick polyethylene (PE), which is a smart choice: it doesn’t chip like rigid composites and it has better impact and cold resistance than many budget plastics. The company rates it to support up to 400 pounds. I didn’t set out to prove that number, but I did stand on it while positioning the downspout, and it didn’t flex meaningfully. The underside has reinforcing ribs that keep the block stiff and flat on uneven soil.

Dimensions are 24 inches long by 10.6 inches wide and about 2 inches high. In practice, that length is enough to push water off a slab or past a foundation planting bed. If your grading is marginal or your soil is slow to drain, you may still want more reach, but the built-in slope makes the most of the two feet you get.

The pack includes three plastic stakes and two anchor holes molded near the front of the block. The extras are helpful: if you misplace a stake or soil conditions aren’t ideal, having a spare is welcome.

Installation and setup

My setup took under five minutes:

1. Snap the two halves together. They seat with an audible click.
2. Set the block under the downspout with the lip overlapping the discharge edge by half an inch or so. That reduces splash-back.
3. Check that the block’s slope is oriented away from the foundation (obvious, but worth confirming).
4. Test with a garden hose on medium flow to see where the water travels.
5. If the path is good, drive two stakes through the front holes. I angle them slightly outward for better resistance to washout.

A tip on the stakes: they’re plastic and perfectly adequate in normal soil, but rocky or baked-hard ground can cause them to bend or snap if you force them. I pre-punched the holes with a screwdriver and watered the spot briefly to soften the soil. If your ground is very compacted, a pair of short metal landscape spikes is a nice upgrade.

Performance in real weather

On a steady rain, the block directs water in a consistent sheet, with almost no side splash. The 15° pitch is enough to keep flow moving even when leaves or mulch blow in. In a heavier event, I watched for undercutting and found the front edge stayed put thanks to the stakes. Without stakes, the block’s footprint is broad enough to resist light flow, but I’d anchor it if you expect fast discharge or if the downspout empties from a second story.

What impressed me most was how tidy the area stays. On bare soil and mulch, splash is minimal, and on a concrete slab the runoff funnels neatly without staining arc patterns on the wall. If you’ve been using flex hose to snake water across a walkway, this is a cleaner look that still protects the slab edge.

Durability and weathering

PE is inherently weather-resistant, and the thickness here inspires confidence. After hot sun and a few cool nights, there’s no warping or oil-canning. The seam between the two halves hasn’t opened up or trapped debris beyond what a quick rinse can clear.

I did a few unscientific tests: stood on it, dragged it across pavers, tossed it into the truck bed. No cracks, no white stress marks, and only superficial scuffs. For winter climates, the lack of joints that hold water (beyond the shallow channel itself) should minimize freeze-thaw issues. I’ll update my impressions after a full season, but early signs suggest it will outlast the thin, brittle splash blocks I’ve used in the past.

Fit and compatibility

Because the channel is wide and unobstructed, it plays nicely with most rectangular and round downspouts. I tried it under a 3x4 aluminum downspout, a corrugated round adapter, and a decorative rain chain basin. All worked fine. If your downspout outlet sits unusually high off the ground, you may need to add a short elbow to get the discharge closer to the block to reduce splash-back.

Color is a neutral green that blends into turf and planting beds better than bright grey or white. The low 2-inch profile lets a mower pass without snagging, but I still pull the block back an inch or two from turf edges to avoid nicks from string trimmers.

Where it shines

• Simple, fast fix for foundation splash and erosion without the fuss of long hoses
• Solid, thick construction that doesn’t feel disposable
• Stable under typical flows, with the option to pin it down
• Compact and neat-looking in visible areas
• Budget-friendly way to upgrade multiple downspouts

What could be better

• The included plastic stakes work, but they’re not ideal for rocky or very hard soil. Metal spikes grip better and won’t snap under hammering.
• At 24 inches, it’s a short-hop solution. If you need to carry water farther due to flat grading or dense clay, you’ll want a longer extension or French drain.
• The two-piece assembly is convenient for shipping, but it leaves a faint seam line inside the channel. It hasn’t affected flow, though it can catch fine silt that needs the occasional rinse.

Tips for best results

• Place the block on compacted soil or a thin bed of gravel to minimize settling and mud creep.
• Angle the block slightly to direct water toward a garden area or gravel swale rather than across a walkway.
• If a downspout discharges from height, add an elbow so water enters closer to the block.
• Use metal landscape spikes if your ground is unforgiving, and drive them at opposing angles.
• Flush the channel with a hose every few weeks during leaf season to keep sediment from building up.

The bottom line

The Ogutter splash block is a straightforward, durable answer to a common problem. It’s thick enough to shrug off abuse, sloped to move water where it should go, and simple to install. In my use, it kept water off the slab, reduced soil splash, and stayed put in a real storm once staked. It won’t replace a proper drainage plan, and it’s not the right tool if you need to carry water several feet away. But as a clean, low-profile way to tame downspout discharge at the point of exit, it does the job well.

Recommendation: I recommend it. The build quality, effective slope, and included anchoring make it a reliable upgrade over flimsy splash guards, and it offers good value for anyone who wants neat, low-maintenance runoff control without running long extensions across the yard.