How to Get Your Rainwater Goods Right

Rather than being an afterthought, your gutters and downpipes should be considered a key part of any self-build or renovation project. Nick Robbins explores the options…

Rainwater goods are vital to the performance of a building. Whichever product is chosen, the aim remains the same: to protect the building from the ingress of water and to stop any structural damage being caused by the flow, fall or collection of water. In other words, rainwater goods serve to take rainwater away from the building. Building Regulations (Approved Document H — Drainage and Waste Disposal) state that an acceptable system will also protect people from the falling or splashing of water.

There are aesthetic as well as structural concerns too. “Water damage from a poorly functioning rainwater system can really damage the curb appeal of a property,” says Nigel Stokes, building products commercial manager at Lindab. Discolouration of render and timber cladding or damage to brickwork can all be caused when a rainwater system fails or is poorly installed, maintained or designed.

Rainwater goods are a prominent part of the external elevations of a house, and key to ensuring your house retains its curb appeal is choosing a rainwater system that works for your design. Too often, self-builders and renovators leave the decision to the last minute, or try to save on costs by picking inferior or cheap-looking products, which can ruin the overall look of the home. Consider it like this: you wouldn’t invest in an expensive suit and pair it with a £1 novelty tie — cheap rainwater goods are the structural equivalent of this fashion faux pas, but with far greater consequences.

able nor practical. Common alternatives include rain chains and eaves drop rain dispersal systems, whereby a louvred design allows the rain to drop a safe distance from the house.

Rain chains originate from Japan – where they are known as kusari-doi – and are an alternative to downpipes. They take the form of a series of metal chain links or cups that rainwater falls down, typically into a soakaway or rainwater harvesting system. Fans of rain chains talk about the enjoyment of watching and hearing the rain fall, while critics will argue that they don’t fare particularly well in windy conditions.

JW Longbottom longbottomfoundry.co.uk Lindab lindab.com/uk

Rainclear Systems rainclear.co.uk Rain Handler rainhandler.co.uk Yeomans Rainguard rainguard.co.uk

guttering (middle left) is shown here on a contemporary build, while its cast aluminium guttering works perfectly on this traditional project. Rain chains (as seen on this project, bottom) are an alternative to standard gutters and downpipes.