Downpipes and accessories are essential for efficient rainwater and overflow disbursement from your roof space. However, you need to choose the correct downpipes and accessories, which must abide by Australian standards.
Whether you’re a building designer, plumber, hydraulic consultant, builder, or an on-site tradie, a durable, long-lasting downpipe system can save time, energy, and money in the long run. With that in mind, this article will explore a range of downpipe accessories and how to determine whether they suit your home.
What Are Downpipes?
Downpipes is a pipe carrying rainwater from a gutter to a subsurface drainage system or ground level. According to the Australian Building Codes Board, a single downpipe in a roofing drainage system must serve no more than a 12m length of gutter and must be located as close as possible to valley gutters.
Square downpipes are designed to fit flush with walls using dedicated clips, and round pipes are clip-attached to walls or free-standing in older homes.
When installing downpipes and downpipe accessories, it’s important to adhere to the Performance Requirements of The National Construction Code, which can be met by using a Performance Solution, a Deemed-to-Satisfy Solution, or a combination of both.
For example, in Understanding the CC (Gutter and Downpipe Provisions for Housing), dedicated overflow measures for a rain head accessory include 3 Ls of overflow. It must also have a 75mm diameter hole in its outer face, with the centre line of the hole positioned 100 mm below the top of the fascia.
Choosing Downpipes and Accessories: Things to Consider
Let’s look at a few things you can consider before investing in new downpipes and accessories for your roof.
1. Roofing Materials
Roofing materials determine whether your roofing system will last through hail, wind, or shine, but what materials can you use to order downpipes and accessories?
Colorbond steel
High-quality downpipes are often made from Colorbond steel, a five-layer system (coated in industry-leading corrosion-resistant Activate Technology and enhanced with a pre-treatment layer, primer, and a baked top coat) identical to Colorbond roofing and guttering for maximum resistance. Tested under harsh Australian weather conditions, Colorbond can last over 50 years.
Colorbond is available in 22 colours, including 6 in a premium Matt Finish or Woodland Grey in a Classic Finish. These colour ranges have Thermatech solar-reflectance technology, which reflects the sun’s heat on warm days and keeps you insulated in winter. Thermatech is available in all colours except Night Sky, reducing your dependence on heating and cooling. Results depend on roof colour, level, location of insulation, and type and location of the building.
Backed by a BlueScope warranty, you’re getting the support of one of Australia’s largest manufacturers. This provides builders or installers with a pre-approved warranty. Better yet, every Colorbond steel product is also 100% recyclable, keeping resources in use for longer!
Zincalume steel
Used with striking effect by leading architects, Zincalume steel roof sheeting is an iconic, durable, and cost-effective material for downpipes. Incorporating BlueScope coating technology such as zinc, aluminium, and silicone, Zincalume is designed to slow the rate of corrosion for longer-lasting downpipe protection.
Scratch-proof and scuff-proof, Zincalume has been used for versatile applications with proven performance and a lifespan of up to five times more than galvanised steel. Providing a unique industrial finish, it is an excellent choice for commercial, equine, industrial, and educational structures.
2. Your Climate
Melbourne weather is often unpredictable, including heavy rain and icy cold weather, with snow in some Greater Melbourne areas. With this in mind, you want your downpipe and accessories to be right for you. Without downpipes, your gutters would be overloaded with water and collapse from the pressure!
You may also want to purchase Gutter Guards or other protective measures to stop downpipes from becoming clogged with debris.
How many downpipes do you need? Connecting your downpipes correctly is critical, but you need to know the number. You also need to consider your roof pitch, the catchment area, and the amount of rain you get. Ideally, this type of planning should be done by a roofing professional.
3. Rain Head Gutters
Rain heads act like large overflow containers to assist downpipe water flow and reduce water surges in your stormwater system. They can be custom-made, ordered in a Standard Design, or in a small range of Stocked Sizes, all available in the entire Colorbond range. Choose from Bead or No-Bead, Square, Round, Half-Round, or V-Shape designs.
Made from BlueScope Colorbond and Zincalume steel, rain heads will remain sturdy and reliable. Managing rainwater flow, rain head gutters protect your home from water damage and are essential accessories to pair with downpipes!
Corrosion-resistant, eco-friendly, and able to handle any weather, read heads easily transport water from the roof to rainwater collection systems, which supports your water conservation efforts.
Whether you need a Colorbond drip tray for an air conditioning unit, a chimney cover, or a Colorbond finish cover plate around the house, You can make use of Standard Rain Heads with standard sizes!
4. Installation Requirements
If your downpipes have holes or gaps, this can cause dampness, leakage, or damage to your property.
- When it comes to the security of your downpipes, the correct brackets and materials must be used to fix the pipes so they can handle rust, wind, and rain.
- Downpipes should always be placed close to the valley gutters, so you have to ensure you have the ideal overflow to the gutter.
- Downpipes need to fit up to 12 metres for each pipe. Consider getting the proper measurements to solidify that unnecessary pressure is not exerted onto the drainage system.
For accuracy in terms of installation, speak to a roofing professional. Roofing Options supply in-store and deliver roofing supplies to Thornbury, Lalor, Reservoir, and Broadmeadows properties across Melbourne.
5. Style and Size
Depending on the size of your roof, the architectural style of your home, and whether or not your house has eaves.
- Make sure that your downpipe matches your gutter system and its capacity to hold water. If your downpipe is undersized, this can lead to overflow, whereas an oversized one may not work the way it should!
- If your property has eaves (such as standard 450mm eaves or larger eaves spanning 600m, you can choose adjustable downpipe offsets from 450mm to 600mm). If you don’t have eaves, there’s no need to worry. A Federation Downpipe Offset can support gutters 50-60mm off your wall.
- Consider the downpipe profile. From round to square lines, the profile you choose can affect the pipe flow rate and the look of your system. Does it match your existing gutter system?
- Place your downpipe strategically. Instead of placing downpipes at standard corners, think about installing them in areas where rainwater naturally flows from your roof, such as roof hips or valleys. This can increase the amount of water flow collected.
6. Downpipe Accessories
You can equip your downpipes with accessories such as rain heads (which filter debris) or first flush diverters, which also capture the flow of rainwater, stop potential contaminants, and direct them away from your tank.
Let’s take a look at the high-quality downpipe accessories to suit a range of homes and personal preferences! For example, round pops penetrate gutters, allowing water to drain out from downpipes.
Want to learn more about roofing options for your house? Take a look at why fascia gutters are an essential addition to your home’s roofline!
Gutter and Downpipe: The Integration
When putting together an efficient rainwater system, you need to integrate your gutters and downpipes properly. Let’s look at some things you need to consider.
Always select downpipes that match the colour and (more importantly) the material of your gutters for a cohesive look.
Make sure there is proper alignment and slope. Gutters must always slope towards downpipes to prevent overflow or leaks.
Keep your downpipe system and gutters clean and clear of debris for rainwater collection to prevent blockages and damage.
If you’re set on Zincalume or Colorbond steel, the Roofing Options team can always give you a fair quote and an even better product.
Order Reliable Steel Roofing Supplies in Melbourne
Are you planning to change up your residential or commercial property? Whether this is the first time you’ve thought about replacing downpipes or you’ve previously done it yourself, Roofing Options has supplies for contractors, builders, and homeowners keen on a better roof.
Visit our stores in Cranbourne, Coburg, or Campbellfield and contact us today for quality Colorbond roofing supplies, Gutters & Metal Fascia, Custom Made Flashings, Downpipes and Accessories, Steel Roof Sheets, Rainheads & Sumps, and more via our online store. Currently, our downpipes and rain heads aren’t available to purchase online, so come in for a hands-on viewing!
