What a Sydney gutter has to handle
Storm bursts set the size
The building code sizes Sydney's eaves gutters for a five-minute burst at 201 mm an hour. It also sets minimum cross-sections: at least 5200 mm2 for a 115 mm D gutter, 6300 mm2 for a 125 mm D and 9000 mm2 for a 150 mm D. A roofer should be able to tell you what size your roof area needs, not just match what's there.
Overflow has to go somewhere safe
For the heavier 262 mm an hour case, the code wants an overflow path. Acceptable options include a slotted front face with at least 1200 mm2 of slots per metre, a 10 mm gap at the back, or a front bead at least 10 mm below the top of the fascia. Done right, a blocked gutter spills outward instead of into your ceiling.
Leaves in the wet north
Turramurra averages about 1,400 mm of rain a year, and Monier recommends cleaning gutters twice a year in tree-lined areas. Under trees, a wider gutter with a good fall and a guard costs more up front but clogs less. See gutter guards in Sydney.
Salt changes the material
For gutters, downpipes and fascia, BlueScope recommends ZINCALUME or standard COLORBOND more than 200 m from salt marine influence and COLORBOND Ultra more than 100 m away. Closer to Bondi, Manly or the harbour, ask what the gutter is made of before you choose a colour.
Heritage houses have heritage gutters
Lysaght's OGEE profile, with its scalloped front, is made for heritage homes. In Paddington, council expects worn-out original roofing to be replaced with the same or similar materials and details, so ask before swapping a period gutter for a modern one. NSW's heritage inspection schedule gives copper and stainless steel gutters a life of 70+ years, against 10+ for steel.
What a proper gutter replacement includes
Old gutters off and away, a check of the fascia behind them, then new gutters hung with a fall of at least 1:500 and brackets no more than 1.2 m apart. Joints should be sealed with neutral cure sealant, and metal filings swept out before the installer leaves, because they rust.
Ask the roofer to check whether the old gutters are asbestos cement, which some older homes have. If the roof above is old asbestos sheeting, the gutter debris should be treated as asbestos too.
Questions for whoever quotes your gutters
- What gutter size and profile are you quoting, and is it big enough for my roof in a Sydney storm?
- How will overflow escape: slotted front, back gap or something else?
- Is the steel suited to my distance from salt water?
- Will you add downpipes if my current ones serve too much gutter?
- Is your licence for roof plumbing, and is the fascia included if it's rotten?
Where we'd land
We'd replace rather than patch once gutters are rusting through in more than one spot. We'd ask for slotted or overflow-ready gutters, the right steel for the distance from the water, and an extra downpipe if the runs are long. In a heritage street, we'd match the original profile. Our national gutter replacement page explains the options, and the Sydney hub covers what else is different here.
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.