Why Canberra gutters fail
Wind as well as rain
Gutters that are already loose or rusted at the brackets are the first thing a squall pulls away.
Hail in the gutter
Big Canberra hailstorms, like those of January 2020 and January 2022, dent and buckle gutters as well as roofs, and packed hail stops them draining. A dented gutter that no longer falls to its outlet will hold water and rust from the inside.
No salt, so any steel works
BlueScope recommends Zincalume and Colorbond gutters more than 200 m from salt marine influence, and it doesn't class the ACT as salt marine at all. So the choice is about looks, matching the roof and budget, not corrosion grade.
Heritage houses need the right profile
Canberra's early garden city homes, such as those in Braddon, Reid and Forrest, are heritage listed. Lysaght's OGEE gutter has a scalloped profile suited to heritage homes, and its high front hides the edge of the roof.
Choosing new gutters
Material. Under a Colorbond, Zincalume or glazed terracotta roof, BlueScope warns that galvanised gutters can corrode early, so choose Colorbond or Zincalume to match. Its gutters also mustn't be fixed with stainless steel, copper or lead.
Profile. Lysaght's QUAD is the classic gutter for steel and tile roofs, and its half round gutter has a curved base it says helps it self-clean, which suits houses under trees. Our page on gutter profiles compares them.
Size and fall. The NCC asks for a fall of at least 1:500 and an overflow path, with each downpipe serving no more than 12 m of gutter. If your gutters overflow in every big storm, bigger gutters or more downpipes may be the real fix.
Grey, heavy old gutters may be asbestos
Some older Canberra homes have asbestos cement gutters or downpipes, which ASSEA lists among roofing products. In the ACT, only a licensed asbestos removalist can take them down. Don't cut, drill or snap them, and get a sample tested if you're unsure.
Ask your Canberra gutter installer
- Are you replacing like for like, or should my gutters be bigger for summer storms?
- Which steel are you using, and does it suit my roof material?
- Where will the overflow go in a cloudburst?
- Are the downpipes and fascia boards in good enough shape to keep, or are they in the quote?
- Could my old gutters be asbestos, and who will test them?
Where we'd start
If only a few joints leak, we'd repair and wait. If the gutters are rusting along their length, dented by hail or overflowing every storm, we'd replace them in Colorbond or Zincalume to suit the roof, sized for a summer downpour, and do it before October. The national gutter replacement page explains the job, and the Canberra hub covers the local picture.
Want a roofer to take a look?
Tell us the job and your postcode. We match it with a Find My Roofer certified roofer who specialises in that kind of work, and they call you to quote. Your number goes to them alone.