Paul Wadsworth, Specification Manager at Brett Martin, uncovers the raft of benefits of the company’s Cascade plastic rainwater system.
Real cast iron rainwater systems bring a traditional, aesthetically appealing look to homes but they can be expensive and time consuming to work with. For specifiers looking for easy-to-install and economical alternatives, modern plastic materials can meet customer demands for heritage aesthetics without the cast-iron price tag.
Modern plastic materials can replace an aluminium or cast iron rainwater specification to deliver projects under budget and ahead of schedule – exceeding both the builder’s and the client’s expectations.
Ease of installation
With significant additional weight, cast iron drainage systems can be heavy and difficult to install. Contractors must also be extra vigilant regarding health and safety and will require more time to lift and fix the system – 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. Even if the system used is delivered pre-painted, any cut lengths, or site damage to the finished surface, must be protected to the same level, by the installer.
Because the plastic ranges are so much lighter than cast iron, installation at height is less hazardous, being effortless to lift, easy to manoeuvre, simple to cut and quick to fit. The systems also benefit from external fixing lugs, enabling easy power tool access, which further speeds up installation. All gutter fitting joints have integral seals and flexible retaining clips, allowing the gutter lengths to simply click into place. No extra-cost fixing kits or nuts and bolts are required to make gutter joints, as with most traditional systems.
A wide range of options
To ensure each rainwater system can be designed to meet every client’s demands, there are an expansive choice of options and gutter profiles available for domestic builds and refurbishments to suit most requirements. From the domestic style of gutter to high capacity systems for larger scale commercial projects, plastic rainwater systems are also compatible with existing cast iron systems and have been carefully designed to replicate original features, dimensions and detailing.
Once installed, the system is low maintenance as it is not vulnerable to rusting or corrosion and does not require regular sanding, priming or repainting to protect it from the elements.
When a traditional aesthetic is a prerequisite, the right drainage system can be the difference between design success and failure. As budgets are increasingly stretched and tight deadlines dictate product specification, contractors must be aware of every product’s cost – in both materials and labour. With a price tag in line with modern construction, and an appearance that blends the past with the present, Cascade is a plastic rainwater system which fits the bill.
