The first rain gutters originated in the Indus Valley civilization between 3000 BC. C. and 1500 BC. The gutters of this time were made with drains covered in burnt clay bricks.
Cast iron became more affordable in the 1700s and became a popular material for gutters. However, the New World was slowly being introduced to the world of sewers. Around the same time that cast iron gutters were gaining popularity in Europe, wooden gutters were still a popular solution in what would become the United States. The history of rain gutters dates back to the Indus Valley civilization between 3000 BC.
Built with bricks made of burnt clay, these old gutters would serve nothing more than today's purposes. Rain gutters are common in most homes in the United States. However, have you ever wondered how the installation of rain gutters began and when did it begin? Rain gutters date back to the Middle Ages, when builders and homeowners were looking for a way to protect their buildings from rainwater out of necessity. The rain gutter installed in your home may be advanced, but it has the same purpose as the first gutters, collecting water and channeling it away from your home and grass.