Top considerations for downpipe installation

One of the more important factors to think about before choosing your downpipes, and indeed your roofing material and guttering, is the climate. The main purpose of a downpipe is to take water away from gutters during heavy rainfall. This prevents the gutters from becoming overloaded with water and collapsing under the weight. So, if you live in an area with high rainfall, you’re going to want high-quality gutters and downpipes. Even if you don’t get a lot of consistent rain, but storm damage is common in your area, you’ll still want to have an excellent downpipe system.

If you don’t get a lot of rainfall or storms, you may be able to get away with smaller downpipes, but you still need them installed professionally so that they function correctly when needed.

It might not be the first thing that pops into your mind when considering downpipes installation, but building standards are taken quite seriously in Australia. All gutters and downpipe systems need to comply with the Building Code of Australia and the Australian Standards AS/NZS 3500.3 – plumbing and Drainage.

This is particularly relevant for new homes, however, you also need to consider this for older homes, too. If you’re considering a DIY job and you’re not familiar with these building standards, you could have problems down the track. For example, if you try to sell your home and a building inspection identifies that your gutters and downpipes aren’t up to code, it could affect the sale.

While there are a huge number of different downpipes available in terms of colour and size, there are really only two types that you need to consider. Downpipes are usually either square or round, and ultimately, it’s more of an aesthetic choice than anything else.

Square downpipes are designed to fit flush against the wall of your home, affixed by special clips that match the downpipe’s size. Round downpipes are essentially the same, held against the wall with designated clips. The only real difference here is that in some older homes, clips aren’t used for round downpipes.

As mentioned, it’s really an aesthetic choice, so you’ve got the freedom to match downpipes to your guttering and the general look of your home.

The simplest way to determine how many downpipes you need is to refer to the building code. Typically, a downpipe should collect water from no more than 12m of guttering. So, it really depends on the size of your roof.

With that being said, you also need to consider the roof catchment size, the types of gutters you have, and also the type of downpipes you intend to install. Plus, you also need to consider the roof slope and the standard rainfall intensity. Ultimately, if you’re uncertain about this, it’s best to call a professional team because the number of downpipes you use can affect compliance with Australian building standards.

Finally, you’ll need to select the colour of your downpipes. Naturally, this is purely an aesthetic choice, but it plays a big role in matching your roof and all associated components (gutters and downpipes) with the rest of your home. The good news is that downpipes can be purchased in an enormous range of colours. Basically, if you looked at a plumbing supplier’s website, it would be extremely uncommon if you couldn’t find something that matches your home.

When choosing a colour, think about how the downpipes will look against the wall colour, and also ensure it matches the gutters. Typically, you would choose the same colour of downpipes and guttering, but it really is up to you.