A Beginners Guide to Rainwater Systems
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.
Rain gutters can be constructed from a variety of materials, including steel, cast iron, copper, zinc, aluminum, PVC (and other plastics),GRP and wood.
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.
Rainwater Systems are created using a combination of pre-manufactured parts.
Gutter Pipe – a half pipe positioned on the fascia board of the building to gather water as it runs off the roof. A wide range of profiles are available for gutters to match the aesthetics of the building.
Down Pipes direct the water from the gutter to the drain or collection barrel. The pipes will be made up of a series of pipes and joints so it can be fixed to the building.
Hoppers – down pipes from different areas of the roof line can meet at a junction called a hopper where they are joined into a single pipe.
Accessories - such as stop ends, joint clips, running outlets and fascia brackets are needed to complete the rainwater system.
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.
Maintenance is normally restricted to the occasional clean out on most modern systems. Water can leak down the side of the building if the gutters become blocked or clogged up. Blocked gutters can also lead to stagnant water build up which allows grasses and weeds to grow in the gutter. If you take good care of your guttering it should last you for years to come
- Cleaning Your Gutters The Twice Yearly Chore
- Rain Gutters Repair Tips
- How to clean gutters (from the ground)
- The Long Term Solution Can Be Found With Cast Iron Gutters
- Home Improvements and Copper Gutters: Spruce Up Your Home This Season
