A guide to rain gutters

Rain gutters are like long, hollow tubes attached to the edges of roofs. They have a crucial job – catching rainwater and steering it away from your home’s base. For most houses, having these gutters is a must. Why? Because they shield your home from water trouble. They stop rainwater from causing damage to the outside and foundation of your home. How? By sending the rainwater away before it can settle in and cause problems like mould and mildew.

See also: Guide to effective cleaning of gutter

 

Rain gutters: Are they necessary or not?

1. Without gutters, the house could get too wet which will lead to mould and mildew causing issues like wood rot, stains and fungus.
2. Heavy rain without gutters might flood the basement, costing a lot to fix and causing mould and mildew.
3. If your home is surrounded by red clay soil, it tends to hold too much water. Gutters with a drainpipe can help steer this water away from your home, preventing damage to the foundation.
4. To protect the garden, use gutters that have long downspouts so the water doesn’t erode the soil and is directed away from the property.
5. Roofs without much overhang struggle to handle heavy rain and thus lead to water pouring down like mini waterfalls, causing trenches close to the house and slowly damaging the house.
6. Houses at the bottom of hills or with slopes nearby can face water pooling issues. These big puddles can harm your home above and below the ground if not drained properly.
7. Homes in areas with lots of rain are at risk of water damage. It’s crucial to take precautions to safeguard your home from potential harm caused by excess rainfall.

 

Rain gutters: Types

K-style gutters

K-Style gutters, known for their do-it-yourself friendliness, boast a decorative design like crown moulding. They come in standard five to six inch widths, featuring a rectangular downpipe appearance. The flat back simplifies the installation, allowing direct nailing into walls.

Half-round gutters

Half-round gutters are semicircular gutters with curved lips that are primarily designed for downpipes. These gutters, available in five inch to six inch widths, are similar to K-style gutters.

Box-style gutters

Box-style gutters, typically found in commercial and industrial locations, have made their way into residential homes to create an industrial vibe. These oversized gutters, ranging from seven to ten inches in width, are crafted to manage heavy rainwater, making them suitable for large-roofed homes.

Fascia gutters

Fascia gutters offer a seamless, modern appearance through custom-built designs. Done by professional installers, these gutters are formed from a single, tailored piece of aluminium specific to your home. Despite their sleek look, these gutters can be pricier, costing twice as much as half-round or K-style gutters.

Read also: Rooftop rainwater harvesting for home

 

Rain gutters: Materials

Vinyl gutters

Vinyl gutters are very common among people who like to do things by themselves. They choose these because they’re easy to install. They are mainly made up of plastics and PVC but don’t last too long, usually 10 to 20 years. Be careful if you live in a place with lots of rain, as these gutters don’t have the capacity to hold so much pressure so in wet areas it is not recommended instead use of metal gutters like steel or copper will be a better choice.

Aluminium gutters

Aluminium gutters are also good for DIYers. They are light and won’t rust, but might crack more easily compared to other metal gutters and last about 20 to 30 years.

Galvanised steel gutters

They are great for homes located in rainy places as they are tougher than aluminium and will last 20 to 30 years with proper care, but it is important to check for rusting.

Zinc gutters

These are very low-maintenance gutters which can resist rust and have a special coating that prevents scratches and cracks. They are durable with a lifespan of almost 80 years and come at reasonable prices.

Copper gutters

These types of gutters are tough and won’t bend, warp, or rust, giving the home a special look with a shiny and classic style. However, this is the most expensive among all the available options.

 

Rain gutters: Maintenance

It is essential to regularly check your gutters for leaves and debris and if you find any, make sure to clean it out. Otherwise it can cause leakage. To thoroughly inspect for leaks, use a hose to assess joints and seams and if there are any leaks clean the affected area, and apply silicone caulk to seal it effectively.

Ensure that downspouts are not blocked by leaves or debris, and check that their joints are properly aligned otherwise, it could lead to rainwater overflow. Keep an eye on water runoff from downspouts and make sure it’s directed away from the home. For this, use splash blocks, downspout extensions or an irrigation pipe to divert water properly. Consistent maintenance in these areas significantly contributes to the long-term functionality of your gutter system.

 

Rain gutters: How to choose the best gutters

When you’re picking out the right gutter system, it’s important to think about how much rain your house gets in a year and if the gutter can handle it. If necessary, you can make the drainage even better by adding more or bigger downspouts.

Downspouts for gutters usually come in widths from three to six inches. Bigger downspouts can move water away faster, but you need to find a balance. If they’re too large, it might not look good on your house. If you want to make them look nice, there are decorative boots you can add. To make sure water flows well, you should have enough downspouts based on how long the gutter is. A good rule is to have one downspout for every 35 feet of gutter.

Another thing to think about when choosing gutters is how they look. Some materials make gutters look better on a house than others. Your budget also plays a part in deciding which material to go for.

 

FAQs

Which are the most suitable gutters for handling rain?

In the realm of rain management, gutters take various forms. An intelligent choice is the semi-circular design, akin to a circle sliced in half. This configuration proves to be optimal for places where there is frequent rain.

How do gutter sizes vary?

The ideal size stands at five inches, a popular choice among people for those inclined towards enhanced rain resilience, a leap to six-inch gutters is a reasonable option. Yet, outliers exist in the form of four- and seven-inch gutters, though they don't command widespread usage.

What is the usual thickness of rain gutters?

The thickness of rain gutters is denoted by gauges, presenting two prominent dimensions- 0.027 inch, a medium gauge, and 0.032 inch, considered heavy.

What is the smallest gutter size?

A little innovation in the gutter field is the mini gutter, made for modest applications like sheds, greenhouses, lean-to roofs, summer houses and bay windows. Its dimensions, approximately two-thirds the scale of conventional domestic guttering, typically hover around 75mm (3ft).

What materials are used in building rain gutter pipes?

PVC, HDPP and HDPE are the materials used for rain gutters. While there are multiple materials that are used to build rain gutters, these are the most common.

Are gutters made from metal or plastic?

In the perpetual debate of vinyl vs aluminium gutters, the latter stands as a stalwart representative of lightweight metal. Aluminium gutters, having etched a lasting presence in both residential and commercial structures, epitomise durability. In contrast, vinyl gutters, composed of a lightweight plastic variant, constitute a viable alternative.

Are gutters good or bad to the environment?

Gutters play an important role in safeguarding the house during heavy rain or water flow etc. So they don’t hamper the environment directly.

Got any questions or point of view on our article? We would love to hear from you. Write to our Editor-in-Chief Jhumur Ghosh at jhumur.ghosh1@housing.com