Leaders or downspouts refer to the pipes that carry the water to ground level.
Gutters help direct rainfall to downspouts.
These downspouts can be drained away from a building, reducing the chance of water penetration into the basement . The gutters also help reduce the amount of rain that falls on people as they walk into a building. At one time, gutters were made of wood, and the downspouts made of steel. These required frequent maintenance. Today, most gutters are made of aluminum.