Homes without Gutters and Downpipes
Stormwater management in the form of gutters and downpipes or perimeter paving is essential. This protects every home’s foundation and structure.
If you are like many homeowners, you have probably wondered why some houses have no gutters and downpipes to protect against stormwater damage. You may have wished your home had none because of the cleaning and maintenance issues.
Gutters and downpipes are not required by law on a sloping roof. Many modern homes have none, even in instances where they would benefit from having them. There are alternatives that architects sometimes prefer such as concrete paving around the perimeter of your house.
To decide whether rainwater gutters and downpipes are necessary for your home, it is best to see what the building regulations require.
The Building Regulations do not require roof gutters and downpipes if another suitable means of drainage has been provided. This is to remove or disperse rainwater from the roof away from your home.
However, the Building Regulations do require that any stormwater that flows from your roof or any area near your home must not cause damage to the interior of the building, its structure or its structural elements. The regulations require steps to ensure that stormwater does not accumulate. This is to avoid “undue inconvenience” to you as the occupant of your home.
Furthermore, the system used must:
- not undercut the foundations by erosion or flooding
- drain stormwater away from your home
- not allow stormwater to accumulate against or close to the external walls
- make provision for the drainage of any areas on the property where water pools
- be capable of being easily maintained and cleaned
This leaves you with a choice of rainwater gutters and downpipes or paving around the perimeter of your home.
Which system better controls stormwater?
Occasionally, the correct stormwater dispersal system is necessary to protect your home’s walls and foundation. Some of these instances are:
Ground conditions affected by stormwater
Most populated areas of South Africa have expansive soils. These soils contain a high percentage of clay which absorbs a lot of water. This can cause the soil to expand by a tenth or more as moisture enters it during the rainy season. Expansive soils may cause the foundation, walls or floors to crack.
With gutters and downpipes or paving, you can direct the stormwater a safe distance from your home. This helps prevent damage to your foundations and home.
Stormwater on Sloping stands
If your home is on a slope, at least one side may allow water to pool along the foundation. This can happen both above and below ground. Gutters and downpipes on that side of the home will allow you to redirect the water towards a downward-sloping side.
In addition, a small channel along the ground will assist with any stormwater runoff from the landscaping. Again paving or gutters and downpipes will do the job.
Roof overhang at the eaves
Roofs that have a two-tile overhang (600mm in the case of a metal roof) or less will allow water to pour from the roof close to the foundation. This is even worse in the case of double-storey homes. It creates numerous problems:
- Frequent rains will cause trenches to form where the water drops onto the surface next to your house.
- Stormwater pooling close to the foundation and absorbed by the ground can cause extensive damage over time.
- Stormwater pouring off the roof splashes up against the walls of your home. This can cause moisture intrusion into the walls and damage to painted and plastered finishes.
- Windows and doors are more exposed to windblown stormwater pouring over the roof edge. This results in an increased possibility of moisture intrusion into your home.
- The stormwater discharged from valleys in greater volume from the roof is problematic.
The paved surround will do the job in the first two instances but fails in the last three.
However, gutters and downpipes provide greater protection against stormwater damage in all five instances.
Although gutters and downpipes require frequent cleaning and some maintenance, they provide additional protection for your roof and home.
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