The rain-carrying system is designed to catch rainwater and snow melt from the roof and funnel it to the downspouts, which direct it away from the foundation. An ineffective rain-carrying system can lead to big problems such as wet basements, cracked and eroding foundations, or damaged siding or landscaping. To avoid such problems, make sure your gutters are installed properly, have no leaks, and are free of debris, which can clog downspouts.

Metal guttering comes in 3 main types—painted aluminum, copper & zinc. Typically you will find one or the other in your local home center.

Metal gutters are also available in different sizes. The most popular is 5" gutter which is typically paired with 2" x 3" downspout. 4" gutter is more popular in areas where there is less rainfall. Occasionally you will see 6" gutter in markets where rainfall is particularly heavy. A larger downspout, usually 3" x 4" is often used with 6" gutter. The larger downspout can also be used with 5" gutter if there is a concern about excessive roof runoff. Both gutter and downspout are readily available in 10' lengths.