Aluminium guttering/downpipes recommendations?

[Chris HB]

Being in a fairly exposed location on the Isle of Lewis, coastal exposure and rainfall are a way of life. So when it comes to guttering/downpipes, I understand that copper is the longest-lasting option and also beautiful, but it's out of my price point, unfortunately.

 

I’ve thus started looking at Aluminium products from Marley Alutec (Aligator Boxer range?) and Rainguard (SL Half round?), or any alternatives you’d recommend?

 

Does anyone have experience using either? Is there much to choose between them, or do they have experiences that people are happy to share?

 

It’s a simple rectangular building with a smaller rectangular entrance porch at one end, no corners or returns etc. 

 

Two straight runs of 8430mm with a single downpipe at one end of each, plus two straight runs of 2450mm with a single downpipe at one end of each

 

The 8430mm run is real slate on a solid stone wall construction, no soffit or fascia, just a 60mm slate overhang. The 2450mm run is artificial slate on a solid stone wall construction, no soffit or fascia, just a 30mm slate overhang

[Redbeard]

Not used the makes you refer to, but many years ago (30-40) we used to use a lot of Alumasc cast alu guttering and alu fall-pipes. Brilliant stuff. A quick search suggests it still exists.

[Chris HB]

4 minutes ago, Redbeard said:

Not used the makes you refer to, but many years ago (30-40) we used to use a lot of Alumasc cast alu guttering and alu fall-pipes. Brilliant stuff. A quick search suggests it still exists.

OK, thanks, I’ll add it to the list to have a look at then…

[BadgerBodger]

I have used this alumasc cast half round on my current project. It was easy to fit and looks great. I’ll take some

photos tomorrow.  

[Mr Punter]

I have used Guttercrest. Very good quality. Lindab is also good but only plated steel.

[Alan Ambrose]

There’s also Metal Gutta stainless e.g.

 

https://www.roofingsuppliesuk.co.uk/products/stainless-steel-125mm-gutter-2-4m-length

 

Anyone used that?

Edited January 18 by Alan Ambrose

[Thorfun]

We used Rainclear for our Zinc guttering. Details here 

 

[Chris HB]

32 minutes ago, Thorfun said:

We used Rainclear for our Zinc guttering. Details here 

 

Thanks, that‘s some nice looking guttering 😎

[Thorfun]

5 minutes ago, Chris HB said:

Thanks, that‘s some nice looking guttering 😎

Cheers. I found it surprisingly easy to install!

[Chris HB]

1 hour ago, Thorfun said:

Cheers. I found it surprisingly easy to install!

Mine is to go into solid stone walls, so I expect it could be a bit more hit and miss installation wise! 🤪

[BadgerBodger]

Better later than never. 
 

don’t mind the green, that’s on me for not connecting the bottom section for a month. 
 

 

[Russell griffiths]

Lovely brickwork @BadgerBodger

[saveasteading]

On 17/01/2026 at 18:17, Chris HB said:

any alternatives you’d recommend?

Have used Lindab and been very pleased with the appearance and effectiveness, especially the hoppers which were curved to maximise flow.

It all seems to be very durable  (still good after 20 years) and lots of colours available, including copper effect the last time I looked.

But Id advise against using copper effect. I've heard of it being stolen in the belief that it is real copper, although on Lewis perhaps that isn't a concern.

 

But I expect black will look appropriate anyway.

 

Even if the roof area only needs one downpipe you should consider two, or a weir overflow in case there is a blockage OR use a design where any overflow is outwards.

[BadgerBodger]

31 minutes ago, Russell griffiths said:

Lovely brickwork @BadgerBodger

I’m so happy with they way it turned out. 
 

absolutey worth the small extra cost. 
 

you can see the below ground in OPC instead of white cement and the difference the white mortar makes 

[Russell griffiths]

1 hour ago, BadgerBodger said:

I’m so happy with they way it turned out. 
 

absolutey worth the small extra cost. 
 

you can see the below ground in OPC instead of white cement and the difference the white mortar makes 

Are you going to get the original building cleaned up a bit. 

[Nickfromwales]

A light sand / media blast would bring that back to life   

[Crofter]

I've always wondered, what's the advantage of metal guttering? It's a huge price premium over plastic which, in my experience, works perfectly well. 

Is it mostly an aesthetic thing?

[BadgerBodger]

2 hours ago, Russell griffiths said:

Are you going to get the original building cleaned up a bit. 

 
yes. In time. The quotes for pointing were wild. (380m2) so when all is said and done I’ll see what’s left and see what the best way of going about it is.

 

likely nothing in left in the pot so it’ll be time to learn how to lime point. When I chose my scaffold tower I had this in mind and got something to reach everything. 
 

I’ve had the tops of the gables done while I had a scaffold up for the roof. 
 

39 minutes ago, Nickfromwales said:

A light sand / media blast would bring that back to life   

I’m in two minds about this. it would essentially make the barn look a lot cleaner but it would also turn it bright red and, I think lose a lot of character. 
 

It’s got a burnish to the brick l, whether that’s age and „pollution” or how they were fired, I don’t know but inside the building they’re solid reds. 
 

I quite like how you can see how the old buildings abutted from the paint on the outside (which would have been in) 

 

I think I’ll just wire brush the most offensive areas as I point it. You can see the gables look great without 

[BadgerBodger]

7 minutes ago, Crofter said:

I've always wondered, what's the advantage of metal guttering? It's a huge price premium over plastic which, in my experience, works perfectly well. 

Is it mostly an aesthetic thing?

Longevity, they say 50 years+ (more with maintenance) 

 

mine was mandated by the conservation officer (listed building) 

 

I wouldn’t have used it if not. Material cost - £6,500 +/- if I recall. 70m 125mm 1/2 round with 40m downpipe inc brackets, fixings etc 

 

for cast effect plastic you can half that 

 

for straight plastic less than half again

[Crofter]

13 minutes ago, BadgerBodger said:

Longevity, they say 50 years+ (more with maintenance) 

 

mine was mandated by the conservation officer (listed building) 

 

I wouldn’t have used it if not. Material cost - £6,500 +/- if I recall. 70m 125mm 1/2 round with 40m downpipe inc brackets, fixings etc 

 

for cast effect plastic you can half that 

 

for straight plastic less than half again

Wow. I knew it was expensive but I didn't realise it was quite that much!!

Not sure about current prices but the guttering on the little house I built was under £200 all in. Been up about eight years and still looks brand new.

So I think that after 50yrs I'll be coming out ahead on cost. 

 

I just wondered if I was missing something.

[BadgerBodger]

Just now, Crofter said:

Wow. I knew it was expensive but I didn't realise it was quite that much!!

Not sure about current prices but the guttering on the little house I built was under £200 all in. Been up about eight years and still looks brand new.

So I think that after 50yrs I'll be coming out ahead on cost. 

 

I just wondered if I was missing something.

Yeah. It’s certainly a nice to have. The cast aluminium is at the top end for price  (only cast iron above that I saw). 
 

I can’t really say I see much benefit to it. I’ve fitted all kinds of gutter and the stuff on my mums house is 30 years in and going fine (cheap plastic 1/2 round on spikes).

 

Doesn’t look as nice is the only thing but cast effect plastic looks pretty damned good