Basic Guide To Rainwater Gutters

The main purpose of a rain gutter is to protect a building's foundation by channeling water away from its base. They also help to reduce erosion, prevent leaks in basements and crawlspaces, protect painted surfaces by reducing exposure to water, and provide a means to collect rainwater for later use.

Cast iron, aluminum, steel, copper, zinc, plastics (PVC), GRP and wood are all used to manufacture guttering systems.

A down pipe (also referred to as a leader) is used to drain the water from the roof mounted gutter to the ground where it can be collected in a barrel or soaked away into a drain. A barrel may be used to collect water from the guttering system.

A combination of the following components make up a Rainwater System.

Gutters - the horizontal pipe that sits on the roof edge and collects the water as it drains off the tiles. Many different finishes and shapes are available in a guttering systems. The shapes are referred to as profiles.

Pipes - used to drain the water from the roof level to the ground. The pipes will be made up of a series of pipes and joints so it can be fixed to the building.

Hoppers - Multiple pipes can be directed to a hopper and channeled to a single down pipe.

Accessories - brackets, clips, ends and outlets are used to connect the rainwater system together and to secure it to the building.

To filter out roof debris such as leaves, moss and broken tiles many rainwater systems will include a louver or screen above the main gutter pipe.

Most modern guttering requires no maintenance other than periodical cleaning out. Water can leak down the side of the building if the gutters become blocked or clogged up. Weeds and grasses can start to take root if stagnant water is allowed to build up in the main gutter housing.