Gutter Colour Guide: White, Black, Brown, Grey — Which Works?
The best gutter colour for your house depends on three things: the colour of your roofline (fascia and soffit), the brick or render colour, and whether you want the guttering to blend in or make a statement. As a general rule, match your gutters to your fascia boards for a clean, coordinated look. Black is the most popular choice in 2026 because it works on almost any property, hides dirt, and looks modern. White remains the classic default on most UK homes. Anthracite grey is the fastest-growing choice, especially on contemporary new builds and refurbishments.
Gutter colour might seem like a trivial detail compared to profile size and flow capacity, but it has a significant impact on kerb appeal. The roofline — fascia, soffit, and guttering — frames the top of every elevation. Get the colour right and the whole property looks sharp. Get it wrong and it draws the eye for the wrong reasons.
Available Gutter Colours
Most PVC-U gutter manufacturers, including Kalsi Plastics, offer a standard colour range. These colours are consistent across the full rainwater systems range, meaning gutters, downpipes, and all fittings are available in matching shades.
| Colour | Description | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| White | Bright, clean, classic | Traditional homes, white render, UPVC windows |
| Black | Smart, contrasting, universal | Period properties, red brick, most house styles |
| Brown | Warm, subtle, earthy | Brown brick, timber-effect roofline, rural settings |
| Grey (light) | Neutral, understated | Grey render, slate roofs, contemporary builds |
| Anthracite grey | Dark charcoal, modern | New builds, grey windows, industrial-chic style |
| Caramel | Golden brown, heritage | Sandstone, buff brick, cottage-style properties |
Colour-by-Property Guide
Red Brick Houses
Red brick is the most common facing material across England. The warm tones pair well with:
- Black — the go-to choice. The contrast is clean and defined. Black guttering against red brick is a timeless combination used on everything from Victorian terraces to modern estates.
- White — works well if the windows and fascia are also white. Creates a bright, airy look that contrasts with the warm brick.
- Anthracite grey — a contemporary twist. Pairs particularly well with grey replacement windows and a grey fascia. Becoming very popular on refurbished 1930s semis and 1960s detached houses.
Avoid: Brown guttering on red brick can look muddy and flat — there is not enough contrast between the two similar warm tones.
Rendered Properties (White/Cream)
White or cream rendered houses — common across the UK, especially in the south and west — benefit from:
- Black — creates a crisp, architectural frame against the light render. Very popular on coastal and rural properties.
- Anthracite grey — a softer contrast than black. Works beautifully with modern grey windows.
- White — blends in and disappears. Good if you want the guttering to be invisible and let the render do the talking.
Yellow/Buff Brick
London stock brick, Cotswold stone, and buff-coloured facing brick suit:
- Black — always works. Provides definition without clashing.
- Caramel — picks up the golden tones in the brickwork for a harmonious, heritage feel.
- Brown — a safe, understated choice that blends gently.
Dark Brick (Engineering Brick, Blue/Grey)
Properties with dark facing brick (blue engineering, grey, or near-black brick) look best with:
- Anthracite grey — tone-on-tone for a seamless, modern look
- Black — blends in rather than contrasts, creating a sleek monochrome finish
- White — bold contrast. Works on properties where the windows are white and you want the roofline to stand out.
Timber-Clad or Timber-Effect Properties
Properties with external timber cladding (or PVC cladding with a woodgrain finish):
- Black — defines the roofline clearly against natural or stained timber
- Brown — blends with the timber for a unified, organic look
- Anthracite grey — works with grey-stained or weathered timber
Matching Gutters to Fascia and Soffit
The most common approach in UK roofline installations is to match the gutter colour to the fascia. This creates a continuous visual line along the eaves.
| Fascia Colour | Recommended Gutter Colour |
|---|---|
| White fascia | White or black gutters |
| Black fascia | Black gutters |
| Anthracite grey fascia | Anthracite grey gutters |
| Rosewood fascia | Brown or black gutters |
| White fascia with black windows | Black gutters (matches the windows) |
The Two-Tone Approach
An increasingly popular trend is a two-tone roofline — for example:
- White soffit + anthracite grey fascia + anthracite grey gutters — the white soffit provides brightness under the eaves while the dark fascia and gutters frame the roof edge
- White soffit + black fascia + black gutters — classic contrast
- White fascia + white soffit + black gutters — the gutters provide a defined line against an otherwise light roofline
Browse Kalsi’s roofline range to see the available fascia, soffit, and gutter colour combinations.
Practical Considerations
Dirt and Staining
Not all colours show dirt equally:
| Colour | Dirt Visibility | Maintenance |
|---|---|---|
| White | High — shows algae, dirt, and staining | Clean 2–3 times per year to stay bright |
| Black | Low — hides most dirt and algae | Clean once a year |
| Brown | Low — similar to black | Clean once a year |
| Grey | Medium — shows some staining | Clean 1–2 times per year |
| Anthracite grey | Low — very forgiving | Clean once a year |
If you are fitting guttering on a property surrounded by trees, or in a location prone to algae (north-facing, shaded), dark colours will look cleaner for longer.
Colour Fading
Modern PVC-U guttering is UV-stabilised to resist colour fade. However, over many years:
- Black and anthracite grey — most colour-stable, fading is minimal
- White — can yellow slightly over 15–20 years, particularly on south-facing elevations
- Brown and caramel — moderate stability, may lighten slightly over time
Quality PVC-U from a reputable manufacturer like Kalsi Plastics uses through-colour pigmentation (the colour goes all the way through the material, not just a surface coating), which means scratches and minor damage do not show a different colour underneath.
Thermal Expansion
Dark colours absorb more heat than light colours. In PVC-U systems, this means:
- Black and anthracite grey gutters may expand slightly more in direct summer sun than white
- The difference is marginal (a few millimetres over a 4 m length) and is accommodated by the expansion gap at each union joint
- It does not affect performance or appearance if the system is installed correctly with the manufacturer’s recommended expansion allowances
Regional Trends in 2026
Colour preferences vary across the UK:
| Region | Most Popular | Trend Direction |
|---|---|---|
| South East | Anthracite grey | Growing — especially with grey aluminium-look windows |
| London | Black | Stable — always popular on Victorian and Georgian terraces |
| Midlands | White | Slowly declining — more people switching to grey |
| North West | Black | Stable |
| Scotland | Black | Stable |
| Wales | White | Slowly shifting to anthracite grey |
| South West | Black | Growing — popular on rendered coastal properties |
The overall UK trend is a move from white to darker colours, driven by the popularity of grey replacement windows, anthracite bifold doors, and a general shift towards a more contemporary aesthetic even on traditional properties.
What About Planning and Conservation Areas?
In conservation areas, colour can be subject to planning restrictions — particularly on properties visible from the street. Common requirements include:
- Black (cast iron effect) on period properties
- Colours that match the original ironwork
- Avoidance of bright white on heritage buildings (historically, cast iron was black, dark green, or dark grey)
If your property is in a conservation area, check with your local planning authority before ordering. Most accept standard PVC-U colours, but some may require a specific shade or a cast-iron-effect finish. Kalsi’s cast-iron-effect range is designed specifically for these situations.
Colour Samples
It is always worth seeing a physical sample before committing to a colour, particularly for anthracite grey and caramel which can look different on screen versus in person. Ask your builders’ merchant for a colour sample card, or contact Kalsi Plastics directly for swatches.
Frequently Asked Questions
What colour guttering goes best with my house?
Match your gutters to your fascia boards as a starting point. Black works on almost any property type. White suits traditional homes with white UPVC windows. Anthracite grey is ideal for contemporary or recently refurbished properties with grey windows. Brown complements natural stone and rural settings.
Should gutters match the fascia or the windows?
Ideally both, since many modern properties have matching fascia and window frames. If they differ, matching the fascia is the safer choice because the gutter sits directly against it. A mismatched gutter colour is less noticeable when it blends with the fascia.
Is white guttering old-fashioned?
White remains the most common gutter colour in the UK, so calling it old-fashioned is a stretch. However, the trend is definitely moving towards darker colours — black and anthracite grey — especially in urban areas and on refurbished properties. White is still the right choice for many homes, particularly those with white render and white windows.
Will black gutters make my house look dark?
No. Black gutters create contrast and definition. They frame the roofline in the same way a picture frame defines a painting. On most UK properties — whether red brick, render, or stone — black gutters add visual sharpness rather than heaviness.
Can I paint PVC gutters a different colour?
You can, but it adds a maintenance step. PVC-U can be painted with a suitable exterior-grade paint (Zinsser AllCoat or similar) after light sanding and priming. The paint will need refreshing every 5–7 years. It is usually better to order the correct colour from the outset rather than painting over standard PVC.
