Guttering across the UK

Guttering - what to expect

Rainwater guttering has gone from a boring plumbing job to a proper style choice - which is why so many UK homeowners now replace working guttering just to switch from white to black or Anthracite Grey to match new windows. But guttering also does real structural work: 200 litres a minute in a heavy storm has to go somewhere, and if the fall is wrong or a joint fails you get wet walls and eventually damp inside.

The two big variables are profile and material. Profile - Half Round, Ogee (K-style, more decorative), Deepflow (higher capacity for larger roofs). Material - uPVC is the mainstream default, cast aluminium is more expensive but looks period and doesn't sag, cast iron is authentic for pre-1930 properties but needs painting. For a standard semi, expect around 15-20 metres of gutter, 8-12 metres of downpipe, plus outlets, angles and unions.

The install matters more than the material. Correct fall (a slope of around 1:600 to 1:350 toward the outlet), brackets every 900mm minimum (600mm in exposed locations or with cast aluminium), unions with proper EPDM seals not silicone. A good installer will also check the swan-neck offset around the eaves and make sure the outlet doesn't sit right above the neighbour's driveway.

Typical UK price range for guttering: £320 - £950 installed. Actual figures for your city sit on the city page below.