Plastic is the first material of choice when it comes to replacing broken or faulty guttering. It’s light, strong, durable, and easy to fit and has the advantage of not rusting. Its one drawback is that it shouldn’t be painted, as this affects the durability of the plastic (few paints would adhere, anyway.) However, uPVC fittings are no longer limited to plain white plastic – they can be purchased in cement grey and black, too, and modern moulding methods mean there is plastic guttering to suit every style of home – including period properties.
Take a wander through any heritage district and you will see period buildings with beautiful, ornate cast iron drainage systems. From Tudor times until well into the 20th century, elaborate metal drainage systems were the norm – and that’s what people want to see on their period or period-style properties these days. The downside, of course, is that old iron pipes rust and crack. Painting slows this down, but it’s on the inner, unpainted surface where the real damage is done – the rain-borne pollutants of the 19th and 20th centuries being a big factor. Often, those pipes are only being held together by the layers of paint.
Authentic, replacement cast iron guttering is horrendously expensive; it’s also heavy, and requires specialist fitting. Luckily, there’s an alternative. We at Bliby Plastics sell traditionally styled black plastic guttering, downpipes and hoppers that are almost impossible to tell apart from the cast iron originals. Authentic in every detail, they are compatible with 65mm and 68mm metal systems and very, very affordable.
