Mike Rawlings from Saint Gobain PAM challenges housebuilders to look beyond alternative rainwater systems and consider specifying a steel system.
Steel rainwater systems are quickly becoming a great alternative for all types of dwellings and offer significant benefits for social housing.
The material is making inroads into the market for a number of reasons including quality, durability, longevity, strength, its green credentials and by offering a smart, stylish and contemporary finish for added kerb appeal.
Durability and longevity
The tough and hardwearing nature of steel ensures that building owners will have decades of reliable performance with minimal maintenance when such systems are installed correctly.
A steel rainwater system has a high load bearing capacity and can therefore deal with any build up of snow, leaves or moss. Steel is a good choice in Scandinavian markets where winters are far more extreme than in the UK, and needs to be designed to take significant snow and other loading.
Steel rainwater systems are designed to cope with greater extremes of temperature, and offer minimal movement because the material resists thermal expansion and contraction. Systems do not, therefore, come apart at the joints or crack over time. This is a key consideration because in the summer temperatures can reach upwards of 35ºc while in the winter it can fall below -10ºc.
With steel you get a long life durable installation that, if maintained correctly, i.e. typically cleaned twice a year can last up to 40 years with minimal problems. This is a major benefit to social housing where some of the biggest maintenance costs associated with these properties is the labour and tool hire costs to replace the guttering.
Ease of installation
Modern steel rainwater systems are quick and easy to install, being the lightest of metal options, with components designed to fit together using jointing clips you can assemble quickly and easily with just a screwdriver and a hacksaw.
Aesthetics
A rainwater system is clearly visible from the outside of a building, so it is surprising that more people don’t stop and consider its aesthetic appeal in helping to differentiate one building from another.
Steel is available in a wide range of colours as well as traditional black and white standard options. Alternatively, with high build polyester coated steel systems there are colours such as metallic silver that can improve a property’s appeal.
The real appeal comes over time however; some rainwater systems may discolour when exposed to UV light from the sun. This does not happen with the high build polyester coated steel rainwater systems, which are also corrosion resistant so will not rust. This means that even decades later, a steel system will retain its sheen and original colour.
Green credentials
The move to eco friendly houses could be another reason why you should consider metal. A steel system has the lowest “cradle to grave” impact on the environment. It is 100 per cent recyclable, saving landfill space and will last for a long time.
Price
When you evaluate the costs across all rainwater systems, steel systems are only slightly higher than most mid range installations and are virtually as fast to install, so there is no real saving on labour costs. And when you consider lifetime costing, as social housing will, then steel works out as very cost effective.
We all talk about kerb appeal and how it helps sell or rent a building, yet little attention is paid to the rainwater system, which is clearly visible from the outside. A cracked or leaking rainwater system with water stains on the brickwork is not a good advertisement for a buyer or a tenant.
Don’t just automatically ignore a steel rainwater system. If you are building or developing a property privately, for social housing or looking to add kerb appeal to a home then it’s worth considering steel alternatives. In the latter case it may help to differentiate you from the rest and if you opt for high build polyester steel, it won’t even cost you that much more.