Blending the old with the new
Giving your property a touch of old charm can stretch your budget, but the secret’s in the guttering, says Hayley Lowry of Brett Martin Plumbing and Drainage
Moreover, a higher specification more often than not equates to a higher price rather than better performance. For self-builders renovating or building in a classic style, it’s vital to strike the right balance between traditional aesthetics, performance and keeping the project on time and on budget. When you are looking to give a new-build
T
project a touch of old-style detail without the price tag or for the sympathetic renovation of a historical building, the solution could lie in gutters and downpipes that combine the authentic cast iron aesthetics with all the benefits of modern plastic manufacture.
he sheer range of products on the market can make buying materials for a self-build project a formidable challenge.
The inherent challenge in creating a heritage
style or reflecting local architectural vernacular is that when you get the specification wrong, it could not only spoil the build’s appearance but have a serious impact on the planning process and efficiency of the overall construction programme. As with all specialist products and materials, it is crucial that self-builders utilise the knowledge of industry experts to get the right product first time, every time. An integral element of the architectural
landscape for over 150 years, cast iron has a highly distinctive appearance due to the texture of the material, its thickness, and the quality of the components. However, cast iron drainage systems can be heavy and difficult to install. With significant additional weight,
self-builders must also be extra vigilant regarding health and safety and systems will require more time to lift and fix – leading to increased costs and potential delays in the installation process. Almost every job will require both gutter and pipe lengths to be cut onsite using specialist tools and, to ensure long-lasting durability, they need to be fully finished on site, using a primer, undercoat and topcoat to ward off corrosion.
A cast iron case for plastic
Alternative products manufactured using lightweight plastic can provide the ideal solution. One such product is Cascade, which makes installation at height safer, quicker and easier. The system also benefits from external
selfbuilder & homemaker
www.sbhonline.co.uk 51
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