Of course Aluminium guttering will never completely replace Cast Iron.
Cast Iron gutters are often obligatory on our oldest buildings, and with good reason, it offers an unmistakable appearance and has proven to last up to one hundred years with sensible maintenance. Cast iron is generally the more expensive system to purchase but it still represents great lifetime value when you factor in longevity.
Charlie McNeil, Managing Director of Rainclear Systems, the UK’s leading stockist of metal guttering, is a huge fan of cast iron, “As well as its strength and efficiency, the wonderful thing about a modern cast iron system is that it’s now available in a pre-painted factory applied finish ready to install, which takes all the hassle and concerns away on onsite painting”
That said, our Heritage Cast Aluminium gutters can be supplied to resemble cast iron in a ‘textured’ black, making them just as ideal to use on traditional, historic and restoration projects where cast iron is not specified.
Cast Aluminium is lighter than cast iron making it easier to handle and fix. It offers all the benefits of aluminium’s resistance to corrosion, plus a factory applied polyester powder coating finish which gives it a life expectancy of 40 years.
It has minimal maintenance requirements while “Iron work corrodes without regular decoration” (Listed Heritage issue 102 Sept/Oct 2015 – Auth. Douglas Kent, SPAB technical and research director)
Colour range
UK manufactured and in-house powder coated the Heritage Cast Aluminium system can be supplied to any RAL or BS colour reference for bespoke projects – so you can match your guttering and downpipes with your windows or match the colour of the original, perished cast iron rainwater system.
Versatile
Both cast iron and aluminium offer unrivalled versatility, if there are any specific design requirements for a restoration or a renovation project, Rainclear work closely with the UK’s most established and experienced foundries to match any feature – however ornate.
Durable
The Heritage Cast Aluminium system is high-performing, durable and requires minimal maintenance. Providing a life expectancy of 40 years in rural/suburban areas and up to 25 years in industrial areas. Aluminium is 100% recyclable at the end of its life and has a monetary scrap value giving it an exceptionally low lifetime cost.
Some cases in point:
Chicklade Farm, Salisbury
This was a renovation of an existing 19th century farm house situated in a prominent conservation area so the right product was essential. The Heritage Cast Aluminium gutters & downpipes finished in RAL9017 Black maintained the authenticity of this beautiful, traditional property.
Rainclear also facilitated the design and manufacture of completely bespoke Aluminium rainwater diverters for the environmentally conscious client, allowing them to divert & recycle their rainwater to help maintain the beautifully restored cottage garden.
Oxted School
Riddel Hall, Belfast
The Heritage Cast Aluminium rainwater system with bespoke hoppers and finish, helped retain the architectural integrity of this Grade B1 listed building. The £10m project was highly commended in the Conservation category of both the RICS 2012 Awards and the RSUA Design Awards.
The architects provided a sample of original components from the building and 45 replica hoppers, together with downpipes, ear-belts and bracketry were replicated along with a special RAL8004M finish in Copper Brown to match the colour of the original rainwater system.
The old system had perished and the Heritage Cast Aluminium system was specified for its ability to replicate the look of the original cast iron system, whilst offering modern performance, longevity and low maintenance.
You could visit the website at www.rainclear.co.uk to see the range for yourself: or download the installation guides. They benefit from next-day delivery; free delivery on orders of stocked ranges (those for next-day delivery) over £600 net; and pay securely by credit card or Paypal.
Alternatively, if you have questions, give the friendly, knowledgeable team at Rainclear a call on 0800 644 44 26.