As roofers, we know the importance proper roofing solutions. You may have a beautiful roof that has been weatherproofed with the latest flashing, the best roof membrane, and has been constructed perfectly, but if you don’t have a solid spouting system then this is all for nought.   

Spouting is crucial to keeping your roof in tip-top shape for as long as humanly possible, but it is so often swept under the rug when it comes to installation and home maintenance! To show you just how important it is, we are dedicating this blog post to spouting.

While gravity is very helpful in removing Auckland’s common rain from your roof, it’s not completely effective. Rainwater tracking down the side of your house can also drag all the dirt and debris from your roof along with it, encouraging issues and discolouration in your siding.

An extra system for drainage is important to prevent puddling, the occurrence of mould, and sagging from plaguing your roof and siding. Spouting is a great solution because all the excess water drips off into the gutters surrounding the roof, and is carried to the ground through a downpipe.

Up until recently, traditional spouting was the preferred format for roofing companies in Auckland. It comes in pre-made lengths that are fitted together like a jigsaw puzzle, which means they could be fitted to homes of any size. While this makes the spouting very versatile, it also introduces complexity into the structure.

If different pieces have to join together, and those joins represent gaps in the spouting through which leaves and insects could find their way. This can lead to your spouting deteriorating faster than normal, costing time and money to take down and re-install once it gives up.

With continuous spouting, there are no joins except for the ones at the corners of the home. During an installation, your home is measured, and the spouting is cut to size, creating a smooth pathway for water to drain away from your roof. This drastically reduces the chance of something making its way into the pipe and creating a blockage.

Like any other part of your roof, the spouting is going to take some punishment as a result of its exposure to the elements. To prevent it from meeting an untimely demise, here are three things you can incorporate into your home maintenance schedule:  

• Hose down the outside of your spouting. This prevents lichen and mould from gathering in a space where rain can’t wash it off.  
• Keep an eye out for blocked gutters and clean them out when needed. Blocked gutters lead to flooding, and flooding leads to damage all over your roof! If you notice that there is more debris on your roof than normal—usually following a storm or heavy wind—then it could be clogging your gutters as well.  
• Clean them once a year. Grab a ladder and give the gutters a wash with gentle soap and some warm water, but be sure to do so safely, with a secure ladder. This uproots any bacteria and reduces the chance of mould or corrosion (should you opt for metal gutters).