Roof Spouting and Gutters
As Auckland plumbing and drainage experts, we have seen the incredible effects that Auckland rain can have on a property. It’s vital that your home is protected with a regularly maintained roof along with spouting that will help extend the life of your roof.
What is the purpose of spouting?
Also referred to as guttering, the spouting on your roof plays an important role in keeping your home safe and dry. When it rains, water runs down your roof into the spouting, rather than just running down the outside walls of your house. The water, and any leaves or debris it brings along with it, runs through the spouting to the downpipes. Downpipes are placed around your house, usually at the corners, to direct the water down the side of the house into the drainage system. All of these components work together to control and direct the rain run-off, to keep your home dry on the inside and to keep the water out of the wall cavities.
When do you need to replace your spouting?
Spouting can be exposed to quite a lot of wear and tear, depending on where you live and the conditions around your home. Things like how much rainfall your region gets, how many trees are near your roof, how many birds and animals hang around your home can all affect how long your spouting lasts.
If there is a lot of debris getting stuck in your spouting, and you’re not cleaning or maintaining your spouting regularly, you may find you need to replace your spouting even if you don’t need a full roof repair.
Difference between spouting and guttering
Whilst managing water runoff from a roof is something that both spouting and guttering do, they each have a different function within the overall system.
The term “spouting” refers to the channels or pipelines that are placed along a roof’s border to gather and transport rainwater away from the structure. Spouting is typically connected to the border of the roof and is made of metal, plastic, or vinyl. It is also known as a conduit, leader, or outlet.
Guttering, on the other hand, refers to the actual trough or channel that is installed along the roof’s edge to collect and channel rainwater into the spouting. Guttering is typically made of metal or PVC and can be attached to the roof or the fascia board.
What is the difference between traditional and continuous spouting?
Like most things involved in home building and property maintenance, there have been innovations and advancements in spouting over the last couple of years.
If you’re doing your own research on spouting, you’ll see that it comes in different shapes, sizes and materials. If you look around at the houses you drive past, depending on the age of the property and the building practices used when it was built, you’ll see round, half-round, quarter-round, box or square guttering.
You’ll also notice that over time spouting in New Zealand has been made from a few different types of materials. It has been made from copper, coated steel, painted aluminium and PVC. There are pros and cons to each of these.
Apart from all of these differences, the latest development in spouting is the ability to install continuous spouting.
What is continuous spouting?
Traditional spouting is made and installed in sections. Your roof is measured, and then a combination of spouting sections is designed to fit the dimensions of your roof. The larger your home is, the more spouting sections you need. The more complex your house design is, or the more angles there are to your roofline, the more spouting sections you need. There will be several cuts and joins.
Continuous spouting, on the other hand, consists of seamless, longer spouting with no joins. It is manufactured in continuous lengths and allows us to install it with fewer seams. The only place you’ll have a join or seam is where two pieces meet at a corner.
Is continuous spouting better than traditional spouting?
In many ways, continuous spouting has clear advantages over traditional spouting that is comprised of joined sections.
Aesthetically, continuous spouting looks nicer, regardless of the style of home you have. The finished result is smooth, and the spouting blends into the roofline much better.
Functionally, continuous spouting is much easier to maintain. Because there are no joins, there are fewer places for cracks or leaks, and no places for dirt and debris to gather or get stuck in your spouting. Remember, as water runs off your roof, it brings with it leaves, branches, bird droppings, insects, tennis balls and other items that may get stuck in the gutters. All of these things are much more likely to run cleanly down into the drainpipes if there are no joints in your spouting. This will also greatly reduce the amount of mould or lichen that can build up in your spouting over time.
If you need to touch up the paint on your spouting, it’s much easier to paint continuous spouting where there aren’t any joints or seams where the paint may clog or create noticeable drip marks.
Continuous spouting also creates a lot less wastage. Because your spouting is measured and custom made to be sized exactly for your house, there aren’t wasted off-cuts.
We can’t really think of any disadvantages of having continuous spouting. It can be cut to custom fit your home specifically, and it is installed and secured properly to avoid sagging.
To sum up, there are several benefits to using continuous spouting:
- it’s easier to keep clean and maintain
- it’s a lot less likely to leak or crack
- it’s easier to apply touch-up paint
- it’s made to measure, specifically for your home
- it creates no wasted off-cuts
- it comes in a range of colours and materials
- it suits any style of house
- it makes your home look fantastic
If you need any help with your roof, spouting or guttering, talk to the professionals at Sumich Plumbing & Drainage. Formed in 1991, we have been looking after Kiwi homes for over three decades.
The Sumich Difference
There are a number of plumbing and drainage companies in Auckland, so why choose Sumich?
Founded by owner-operator Chris Sumich in 1991, Sumich Plumbing & Drainage has one of the most experienced teams operating in Auckland. Our team has a combined experience of over 100 years and we’ve seen a comprehensive range of scenarios and solutions over the years. Clients trust us to give honest, transparent advice and service.
As registered members of the New Zealand Plumbers, Drainlayers & Gasfitters Association, we are professional, licensed Auckland plumbers for all of your plumbing, drain laying, gas fitting and heating needs. Give us a call to see how we can help.