RAINWATER MANAGEMENT
NEW DEVELOPMENTS WITH PLASTIC RAINWATER
E
verywhere we look, change seems to be the “new normal” which applies to everything from the weather to material pricing and most things in
between. In this fast moving market it is useful sometimes to review the opportunities, even for those products which may appear very familiar.
That’s according to Chris Dawson, sales director at Brett Martin Plumbing and Drainage, who says that plastic rainwater systems are a great example, especially since they form an essential part of every merchant’s stock, on the basis that every new build home or RMI project will require a system, providing a constant stream of demand. “Firstly style and design of housing has changed with an increasing trend towards alternative roof designs and materials which can accelerate the rate of water flow off the roof, which combined with increasingly severe rainfall, can mean that the standard half round gutter system is no longer the best option,” he says.
Higher capacity systems, such as Brett Martin’s Deepstyle 115mm, are experiencing growing demand which Dawson says is good news for the merchant as this upspecing will increase the sales value per project and supports the stocking of these volume sales lines.
“A second and growing trend is the increasing awareness of the aesthetic rather than the purely functional aspect of building materials, no doubt fuelled by access to social media such as Pinterest and the many types of home improvement media which is so important to those engaged in home improvement or self build projects,” he continues.
The increasing quality and detailing of new build homes has also changed the market for higher spec systems, Dawson adds, as house builders seek to achieve higher values for their plots and compete for a more discerning buyer.
“This is especially the case with new homes built in a traditional style or refurbishment of heritage buildings, where cast-iron rainwater sytems have traditionally been the material of choice despite the expense and challenges with its installation and maintenance. We are now seeing the market turn to plastic
How we manage the stuff that comes from the sky is changing, but there are still plenty of opportunities for merchants, as BMJ finds out.
rainwater solutions, produced to re-create the cast iron look, for a wide range of projects from contemporary builds to heritage projects,” he says.
Modern plastic materials are a fraction of the price to buy, install and maintain compared to an aluminium or cast iron specification and can create a heritage aesthetic without compromising architectural integrity. This, Dawson says, is why Brett Martin’s Cascade cast iron effect rainwater and soil system is currently generating such attractive opportunities for merchants.
Enhanced profit opportunities “Because of its unique features, this type of system is often specified by the architect and this helps the merchant in the form of reduced discounting and comes on top of the product having significantly higher list prices than standard systems. This adds up to extra margin for the merchant for each house or project supplied,” he says. To help the merchant achieve the best results, Brett Martin provides rapid stock support for the most popular Classic Black systems but also provides a reliable made to order service for the extensive colour range of Cascade which are more likely to be used on architect led projects.
Market Demands
Dawson explains that, as a combination of all the above noted trends, the modern housing development now requires a range of product formats, even within a single project.
March 2022
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net
Rainwater systems are specified by volume and flow rate depending on the roof size to be drained.
“A good example of this would be the mix of heritage refurbishment and new build at the historic Stapehill Abbey which has undergone a restoration and conversion into 22 homes while a further 30 have been built in the grounds. The size of the roof on the abbey necessitated a high-capacity system while the new build properties were serviced effectively with a standard system in Classic Black, bringing period authenticity to these traditional homes,” he says. “Projects of this type offer new
opportunities for merchants, especially when stocking a product like Brett Martin’s Cascade, which is specified for its unique properties. All proof that our market continues to evolve and is best served when product manufacturerers develop in partnership with forward looking merchants.” BMJ
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