Which Type Of Guttering Is Best For The Home?

Rainwater systems, such as gutters, are one of your home’s most important defences against the elements. They collect the runoff from your roof, caused by rain and melting snow, and divert it away from your property.

Unless you’re a plumber or builder, guttering is not something you will buy every day. However, if you’re undertaking a small DIY project on your outbuilding or a large scale building project, you want to make sure that you select the best type for your project and budget.

Here the experts at Total Pipeline Systems have compiled a quick checklist of things to look out for, so you can make an informed decision.

5 factors to help you determine the best gutters for your house

1.)Material

When choosing a guttering material for your home, it’s important to think about:

• the location of the property
• the type of building
• the look you want to achieve with guttering

1). Profile

With PVC gutters, you typically have four basic styles to choose from:

Half-round - provides a simple, uniform profile with smooth curves that allow rainwater to flow into the centre of the gutter channel with ease.

Square - has a greater capacity than half-round gutters and boasts an attractive rectilinear profile. These can be fitted with either round or square downpipes.

Deep flow - very similar to half-round gutters, only they have a deeper channel so can hold more water

Ogee - has a number of curves (also known as an S curve) and replicates the gutters that were used in the 19^th century. Whilst they are great for period properties, they can add a sense of authenticity to more modern buildings, too.

While half-round or square guttering is perfect for standard-sized roofs that aren’t overly steep, deep flow and ogee gutters are best suited to larger houses or properties where the roof pitch is steeper than average.

At Total Pipes, we even supply mini half-round gutters that are ideal for outbuildings, including sheds, garages, greenhouses and orangeries.

3). Colour

Plastic gutters come in black, white, and brown. Most are available in grey as well, apart from the square guttering.

The best option for your house comes down to your personal preference, but be sure to consider what your house looks like from the kerb. For example, if your doors, windows, and frames are mahogany, brown gutters will complement the colour scheme better than white.

If you opt for a light coloured gutter and drainpipe, you may need to wash them down with warm soapy water from time to time to keep them in tip-top condition.

Though not something we supply at Total Pipes, cast iron guttering is excellent for older terraced houses. It has a satin, textured finish which suits the periodic style to the ground.

4). Brand

Most reputable brands provide guttering in a choice of colours, profiles, and materials – Brett Martin, Marley, and Freeflow are just a few examples.

Before you invest in new rainwater systems, you must do your research to ensure that you’re purchasing top quality products that will stand the test of time and suit your property. And remember to buy the appropriate fittings for your new gutters to ensure maximum longevity.

5.) Price

The cost of guttering can vary depending on all the aforementioned factors, but creating a realistic budget will help you narrow your options down.

Don’t forget to factor in the price of gutter fittings – i.e. stop ends, fascia brackets, running outlets, adaptors, etc. – and delivery charges.

Here at Total Pipes, we offer free delivery on orders over £300 (plus VAT), making now the ideal time to stock up on supplies for everything from rainwater systems to channel drainage, soil and waste pipes, and more.

Get in touch

If you have a question about rainwater systems or would like to know more about the guttering supplies we stock, don’t hesitate to contact us. 

To speak with an expert, call 01254 382 000 or drop us an email at sales@totalpipes.co.uk, and we’ll get back to you.