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52 rainwater & greywater products


Traditional style meets modern standards


Tony Wereszczynski of Marley Alutec explains how to achieve the right balance in rainwater and eaves specification when dealing with heritage-style properties.


balance between traditional aesthetics and modern performance expectations. As much as we may marvel at the delights of


H


modern architecture, many people still believe you can’t beat a traditionally-styled building. In fact, research indicates not only do we prefer the styling of traditional homes, but we’re also willing to pay up to 15 per cent more for them. However, aesthetic value should never be the sole attraction of a property, and what traditional homes might have in terms of looks, they often lack in terms of building performance and efficiency. The best course of action may be to design a


property that draws from the principles of heritage design, but is composed using high- quality building materials, giving the owners the best of both worlds. This was the case with a recent project at the


Warren Wood Manor, an opulent £19m mansion in Hertfordshire, complete with a 24


eritage-style buildings can pose challenges for developers, especially when they are tasked with finding the


car private garage, cart and hay lodge, and a 45-horse stable. While the mansion and garage were both new-builds, the property’s carriage house was a pre-existing structure. An ageing and


“The best course of action then is to design a property that draws from the principles of heritage design”


traditionally designed building, the carriage house was in need of significant but sensitive renovations to upgrade its performance. Being a new build, the mansion on the other hand needed to complement the existing building’s traditional heritage. The developers therefore didn’t want to lose the estate’s historic charm, so they needed to find building materials that suited the traditional style but were technologically advanced. This would allow them to avoid an aesthetic clash between the stable and the mansion.


Nowhere can the clash of old and new be more


obvious than on a building’s external envelope, particularly on rainwater systems, which are clearly visible and provide a frame for any home. Rainwater systems can be particularly tricky to improve without disrupting an existing aesthetic as they often use cast iron, which has a distinctive appearance. Cast iron rainwater systems are very costly to replace however, being extremely heavy and requiring a lot of maintenance. Therefore, any alternatives that can address these issues and yet remain a close match visually are very attractive to developers. At Warren Wood Manor, the developers


elected to use high quality, durable and strong products from a trusted manufacturer. The main house was equipped with a rainwater system and 102 mm circular downpipe. The carriage house


respond online at www.hbdonline.co.uk


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