Why spouting is its own job in Dunedin
Heavy days are getting heavier
On 3 June 2015 Musselburgh logged 142 mm in one day, the second highest since records began in 1918. Otago Regional Council found flood peaks on the Water of Leith and Silver Stream were bigger and more frequent from 2006 to 2015 than in the 40 years before. Spouting sized for gentle rain spills over in weather like that.
South Dunedin has nowhere for water to go
Around 2,700 homes there sit under 50 cm above sea level on what was once tidal wetland. When the ground is saturated, water from a broken or disconnected downpipe pools against the house instead of soaking away. Sound joints and downpipes properly connected to stormwater matter more here than almost anywhere in the city.
More rain days, more debris
The Botanical Gardens station records 178 rain days a year and 968 mm, against 652 mm at the airport. Wet roofs grow moss, and moss and grit wash down into the spouting, so homes in the wetter parts of town tend to block up sooner.
Snow on the Taieri
Snow falls on about 8 days a year at Dunedin Airport. The metal roofing Code of Practice says snow straps on house gutters are normal in snow-prone areas, and that spouting needs extra fixings to resist sliding snow. If you're out on the plain, ask whether your brackets are up to it.
Salt at St Clair, St Kilda and the harbour
Homes within 500 m of the open sea or Otago Harbour count as exposure Zone D. The Code of Practice warns that spots rain rarely washes, such as roof overhangs and soffits, collect salt and corrode faster. Spouting sits tucked under that overhang, so the material matters more by the beach than inland.
Older houses, older materials
WorkSafe lists gutters and downpipes among the places asbestos cement can turn up, and says homes built before 2000 may contain it. On an older Dunedin house, have grey, fibrous-looking spouting tested before anyone cuts or pulls it down.
Repair, replace or rethink the layout?
A leaking joint, a dropped bracket or one rusted section is usually a repair. Our spouting repairs page covers them.
Replace when rust has spread along the runs or brackets keep pulling out of soft fascia. Fascia rot often turns up at the same time, and fascia and barge boards explains that job.
Spouting that overflows in the same spot even when clean may need a bigger outlet or another downpipe, not a whole new run. A good roofer will tell you that before selling you metres of spouting.
What makes a Dunedin spouting job bigger or smaller
A single-storey house on the flat with sound fascia is the simple end. Steep sections that need scaffolding, two-storey brick villas, rotten fascia behind the spouting and coastal-grade material near the beach all add work.
A good written quote names the spouting material and profile, the number and position of downpipes, bracket spacing, any snow straps, how the old spouting will be disposed of, and what fall protection is included. Our guide to reading a roofing quote shows what else to look for.
What to ask a Dunedin roofer about spouting
- Which exposure zone is my house in, and is this spouting rated for it?
- Will it carry a heavy burst, or do I need another outlet or downpipe?
- Are my downpipes properly connected to the stormwater system?
- Do I need snow straps or closer brackets where I live?
- Could the old spouting contain asbestos, and will you test it first?
- Is scaffolding or other fall protection included in the price?
What you can check from the ground
You can
- During heavy rain, watch from inside or under cover to see where water spills over.
- Keep the downpipe outlets and stormwater grates at ground level clear.
- Look for rust streaks, drips at joins and stains on the brickwork below.
- Take photos of any overflow to show the roofer.
Leave to a roofer
- Cleaning spouting on a second storey or a steep section
- Replacing brackets, joins or whole runs
- Resizing outlets or adding downpipes
- Anything that might be asbestos cement
What we'd do about Dunedin spouting
We'd fix where the water goes before worrying about how the spouting looks. Get a roofer to check the downpipes are connected and the outlets can handle a burst, especially in South Dunedin. Near the beaches or the harbour, we'd pay once for spouting that suits the exposure zone rather than buy cheap runs twice.
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.