Gutters are the part of the system that nobody thinks about until a damp patch appears at the base of the wall. The gutter simply collects the water — it is the downpipe that carries it away from the house. If it is too narrow, or if there is only one instead of two, the gutter will overflow during any heavy downpour, no matter how expensive it was.
Here are the prices for 2026 and — more importantly — how to work out how many and what sort of pipes you need.
Prices for installing guttering
The price is quoted per linear metre of the building’s height and includes labour, pipework and clamps. Elbows and funnels are charged separately.
| Pipe type | Price (€/linear metre). | ≈ BGN/linear metre. | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|---|
| PVC Ø100 | €10–15 | 20–29 leva. | Canopies, farm buildings, low-budget projects |
| Galvanised Ø100 | €16–20 | 31–39 BGN. | Standard detached house |
| Galvanised Ø125 | €19–24 | 37–47 BGN. | Large roof areas, steep slopes |
| Galvanised with a coating (RAL) | €22–28 | 43–55 BGN. | When the pipe is visible from the street |
| Aluminium | €18–26 | 35–51 BGN. | Kit for a seamless guttering system |
| Titanium-zinc / copper | €45–95 | 88–186 BGN. | Representative and restoration projects |
Including labour, materials and brackets. Exchange rate for comparison: 1 € = 1.95583 BGN.
Ø100 or Ø125 — how to decide
Diameter is not a matter of taste, but of arithmetic. Each pipe can handle a certain roof area; it simply cannot cope with any more than that, and the water overflows the edge of the gutter.
| Diameter | Drains into | A practical guide |
|---|---|---|
| Ø80 | ≈ 40 m² | Shed, garage, small outbuilding |
| Ø100 | ≈ 80 m² | The most common choice for a house — one pipe for every ~80 m² of roof area |
| Ø125 | ≈ 130 m² | A large roof, or when a second pipe cannot be fitted |
| Ø150 | ≈ 200 m² | Industrial and public buildings |
Example: a house with a roof area of 160 m², divided into two slopes of 80 m² each. The correct answer is two Ø100 pipes — one on each roof pitch. Using a single Ø125 pipe for the whole roof may seem cheaper, but in heavy rain one side will overflow because the water from that side has no way of reaching the other side.
A rule that prevents leaks: The pipes are positioned at the edges of the slope, not in the middle of the façade, „so that they cannot be seen“. The gutter slopes towards the downpipe — the longer the distance the water has to travel in the gutter, the greater the risk of it overflowing when there are leaves or ice.
How much does a drainpipe cost — the total bill
„16 euros per metre“ sounds cheap – until you’ve paid the rest. Here’s the actual cost of one A chimney on a two-storey house 7.2 m high:
| Position | Quantity | Unit price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rainwater downpipe, Ø100, galvanised | 7.20 l.m. | 18,00 € | 129,60 € |
| Funnel (small pot) | 1 item. | 22,00 € | 22,00 € |
| 72° knee angles (up and down) | 2 items. | 9,00 € | 18,00 € |
| Wall brackets | 5 items. | 4,50 € | 22,50 € |
| Drainage elbow leading to a manhole | 1 item. | 9,00 € | 9,00 € |
| Total for one pipe | 201,10 € | ||
≈ 393 BGN. For a typical house with three pipes, that comes to around 600 € for the drainage system alone.
Not sure how many pipes you need?
Submit an enquiry — our fitter will measure the slopes on site and calculate the dimensions of the system. Site survey and no-obligation quote.
Five mistakes we see most often
- The pipe ends 20 cm above the ground. Water splashes onto the plinth and wets the foundations. A drainage elbow leading to a drain, a drainage system or, at the very least, a distance of 1.5 metres from the wall is required.
- Clamps every 2 metres. The standard is 1.2–1.5 metres, plus one must be fitted under each knee. Otherwise, the pipe will come loose from the roof at the first snowfall.
- Galvanised pipe fitted into a PVC gutter. Different materials behave differently at different temperatures; the bond loosens over a period of two years.
- A pipe connected directly to the sewer without a trap. When it gets blocked, the water flows back, and in the summer it smells.
- A diameter that is too narrow „for the sake of aesthetics“. An Ø80 drain on a 80 m² pitched roof is guaranteed to prevent water from overflowing.
When is the pipe replaced, but not the gutter?
This is a perfectly normal and much cheaper scenario. Downpipes get damaged more often than gutters because they are at an accessible height: they get knocked when cars are parked, they burst due to frozen water, and they rust at the bottom end, where they remain wet for the longest time.
If the gutter is in good condition and made of the same material, replacing just the pipes costs €150–350 for a house with three pipes — including the removal of the old ones. There’s no point in tinkering with the whole system just because of one burst pipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pipes are needed for a house with a 120 m² roof?
For two pitches of 60 m² each — one Ø100 pipe per pitch, i.e. two. If the roof has four pitches, there are usually three or four, one at each corner.
Can the guttering be connected to the sewerage system?
In most towns and villages, yes, but check with your local water and sewerage authority — some networks are separate and do not accept rainwater. The alternatives are a drainage pit, a soakaway or channelling the water to a green space.
Why does my pipe make a rumbling noise when it rains?
Usually because it’s attached directly to the wall without rubber pads in the brackets, or because the elbow at the top is at too sharp an angle and the water is running freely. Both can be sorted out in an hour.
Does the water in the pipe freeze in winter?
Yes, in very cold weather and for pipes on the north-facing side. If this is an annual problem, the solution is a heating cable inside the pipe and the drainpipe — around 25–40 € per linear metre, including installation.
Can I connect a PVC pipe to a galvanised gutter?
Technically, it is possible to use a transition sleeve, but it is not a good idea — the two materials have different coefficients of thermal expansion and the joint will leak. It is better to stick to a single material for the whole system.
Related prices: installation of guttering, dismantling of an old system и galvanised gutters.