The guttering on a property is actually an integral part of a building and should be well looked after. Of all of the elements, water is the most detrimental to any building, whether it be a home or business and guttering helps keep the property protected. Investing in a proper set of guttering will stand you and your building in good stead. It is not always easy to know what is available and which types of gutters commonly found in the UK are the best choice for you or your property.
Many people believe that guttering is a modern invention but this is not the case. Many previous civilizations used guttering as they realized the importance of it. The system of guttering dates as far back as the Roman era and evidence now suggests that even older civilizations used the first forms of guttering on their buildings.
The United Kingdom was introduced to the concept of guttering by the Romans in A. D 47. The Normans spent the 11th century knocking down existing towns and cities and erecting new buildings with effective guttering. Indeed, the people of the Middle Ages often had disputes and debates that related to the guttering of their structures. Over the centuries the materials and processes involved in the manufacture of guttering improved significantly.
For many years lead was the material of choice for making gutters. Then in 1709, with access to more raw materials and coke, cast iron became the gutter material of choice. From the 19th century onwards, most buildings had cast iron guttering instead of lead ones.
There are three main types of gutters commonly found in the UK today. Cast iron guttering can still be found on older properties up and down the country. This material is very hard wearing and can last for decades as long as it is properly maintained.
Next, there are PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride) gutters which are the most popular in the UK. They are fairly cheap, easy to install and lightweight. All of these features mean that they are popular and inexpensive to replace should they become damaged or blown off of a property.
The final choice when it comes to types of gutters commonly found in the UK is pressed steel. This choice is not as prominent as either PVC or cast iron but there are still a number of buildings that have it in the UK. Although pressed steel guttering has the benefits of being tough and lightweight, the main bone of contention with this choice is the cost.
Many people believe that guttering is a modern invention but this is not the case. Many previous civilizations used guttering as they realized the importance of it. The system of guttering dates as far back as the Roman era and evidence now suggests that even older civilizations used the first forms of guttering on their buildings.
The United Kingdom was introduced to the concept of guttering by the Romans in A. D 47. The Normans spent the 11th century knocking down existing towns and cities and erecting new buildings with effective guttering. Indeed, the people of the Middle Ages often had disputes and debates that related to the guttering of their structures. Over the centuries the materials and processes involved in the manufacture of guttering improved significantly.
For many years lead was the material of choice for making gutters. Then in 1709, with access to more raw materials and coke, cast iron became the gutter material of choice. From the 19th century onwards, most buildings had cast iron guttering instead of lead ones.
There are three main types of gutters commonly found in the UK today. Cast iron guttering can still be found on older properties up and down the country. This material is very hard wearing and can last for decades as long as it is properly maintained.
Next, there are PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride) gutters which are the most popular in the UK. They are fairly cheap, easy to install and lightweight. All of these features mean that they are popular and inexpensive to replace should they become damaged or blown off of a property.
The final choice when it comes to types of gutters commonly found in the UK is pressed steel. This choice is not as prominent as either PVC or cast iron but there are still a number of buildings that have it in the UK. Although pressed steel guttering has the benefits of being tough and lightweight, the main bone of contention with this choice is the cost.
About the Author:
Home maintenance is important. You can have your gutter cleaning needs taken care of fast and easy when you choose a London gutter cleaning professional. The gutter team can take care of this maintenance task for you quickly!
