What Is the Best Quality Guttering?

Your guttering is crucial for keeping your home safe, by ensuring rainwater is directed down into the drains instead of pooling on the roof or getting into the foundations. At the same time, you’ll want it to last, without the need for constant maintenance, and to look great from the street. So what’s the best quality guttering to fulfil all these criteria?

Metal Guttering

Traditionally, guttering was usually made of metal, and a number of metal options are still available — steel, aluminium, copper and cast iron. These can all look stunning, especially when they’re relatively new, but they have the disadvantage that constant exposure to water can lead to metals rusting or corroding unless they’re specially treated.

Of the metals on offer, aluminium is the cheapest and most lightweight, while cast-iron tends to be most durable and have the best kerb appeal, especially on a period or historic building. Perhaps the biggest downside of cast-iron, however, even if it’s treated against rust, is its weight, which could damage masonry that is insufficiently robust.

UPVC Guttering

In recent years, UPVC has been growing in popularity as a material for guttering. Besides being considerably cheaper and easier to install than the metal alternatives, UPVC is extremely tough, coping with extremes of temperature and weather without damage. It’s especially good for areas of high rainfall, as it can handle large amounts of water far better than metal guttering.

Using UPVC doesn’t have to mean sacrificing your home’s kerb appeal. Because it’s a very adaptable material, it can be manufactured to match the look of metals such as cast iron or copper, but without any of the practical or cost disadvantages.

Even if you’re not going for a metal look, UPVC guttering is available in a wider range of colours than metals, allowing you to match it both to your home’s look and to the wider area. Typically, UPVC guttering will be available in black, white, brown and various shades of grey.

Guttering Shapes and Styles

Guttering can be seamed or seamless. Seamed guttering is a popular DIY choice since it’s easier to install, but it’s more likely to leak than seamless styles, which need to be installed by professionals.

The choice between the various profiles available depends largely on use. Half-round guttering, the simplest type, works well enough for lower-rainfall areas, but for high amounts of water, you’d be better with box-style gutters. The K-shape is especially popular on older buildings since the front resembles crown moulding.

Give us a call if you want to know more about the best guttering to protect your home.