A gutter is a conduit for conveying water away. The word comes from the Roman ‘gutta’ meaning a ‘drop, spot, or mark’. Gutters have various names including rhone in Scotland, eavestrough in Canada, and even dripster although we are not sure where. Some people call water channels on the ground gutters. In this particular instance, we are interested in eaves gutters collecting water from roof edges.
Some Early Forms of Gutter Types
The Indus Valley people used groundwater channels 5,000 years ago. However it took the Romans to think of leading rainwater away from roof edges. They brought the idea to Britain but this fell into disuse after their empire failed.
The Normans reintroduced the idea when they conquered England in 1066, from where it gradually spread throughout the British Empire.
Soon cathedrals were adorned with lead parapet gutters, and gargoyle waterspouts that splashed bishops and peasants alike below.
The Dissolution of the Monasteries released considerable stockpiles of lead gutters for recycling. First the landed gentry, and then their tenant farmers began fitting lead gutters to their homes. They assembled lead sheets over wooden frames and box-profile gutters remained that shape for centuries.
Crystal Palace Introduces the Half-Round Profile
The rafters between the roof spans of the colossal structure supported deep, half-round profile gutters because the architect wanted everything different. Soon these were all the rage, although they had less carrying capacity than box ones.
By the 1870’s all London houses boasted ogee, square, or half-round gutters using cast iron technology.
Twentieth century rolling machines enabled the mass-production of steel gutters with simple profiles that PVC still mimics, although it is hardly as long-wearing and robust.
Seamless, extruded gutters finally made it possible to manufacture K-Style aluminum ones on site. To us, this is the perfect profile with great carrying capacity, a flat rear profile for fixing to fascias, and an attractive leading edge when viewed from the ground. Here are some jobs we have done with this brilliant product.
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