The gutter system is an integral part of the roof of any building. By device, it is internal and external. Structurally, it includes pipes, gutters, funnels, bends, elbows and other components.
For the manufacture of these elements different materials are used. It is difficult to choose the appropriate type of drain from the range of products offered, but do not want to overpay? Let’s work together to figure out which gutter is better - plastic or metal, for which we carefully compare all the characteristics of the systems on the market within the framework of this article.
We will also give recommendations to potential buyers on choosing the optimal drainage system, providing the material with video tips and photo illustrations.
Which is better: plastic vs metal?
It is impossible to get rid of rain and melt water by definition. Residential and non-residential buildings must somehow be protected from their effects, otherwise the walls, roof and foundation will not last long.
If there is no gutter system on the roof, then not only the exterior finish, but also its supporting structures will quickly begin to collapse. It is better to spend money and make an effective drain, than to overhaul the entire building afterwards.
If the drainage system is designed unprofessionally, then the facade, walls, blinds and foundations will suffer from water flowing from the roof
All elements of the drain according to the material of manufacture can be divided into two groups:
- metal;
- plastic.
The first group includes products from steel, copper, zinc and aluminum, and the second from PVC, polypropylene and polyethylene. And each of these materials has its own merits.
In short, galvanized or polymer-coated steel, unlike plastic, does not change its geometry in the sun and does not burst from ice freezing inside. Copper and zinc elements of the drain will last the longest, but they are also the most expensive. Plastic drains are distinguished by a variety of color solutions and low cost.
However, the choice of material for manufacturing the roof spillway system is highly dependent on the configuration of the roof, the amount of precipitation, and the average annual temperature in the region where the building was built.
Before you go to the store to purchase a drain, you must study all the nuances of the proposed options. In some cases, you can do with inexpensive plastic, while in others it is better to take something from metal.
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A gutter system is built to protect the walls and foundation of a low-rise building with a pitched roof from liquid atmospheric precipitation
The main elements of the drainage system responsible for collecting rainwater from the pitched roof are gutters - long metal or plastic products made in the form of a pipe cut along half a round or square section
Gutters are installed with a slight bias towards the drainage funnel. Rain water must spontaneously drain into it
A drainpipe is connected to the funnel, which, with the help of the knees, gives a slightly curved shape to round the curtain rod and join the wall
Rainwater collected by the organized drainage system is discharged into the storm sewer, which diverts water to the discharge point
Gable roofs are equipped with two independent gutters, each of which is connected to its own funnel and drainpipe
The hip and tent roofs are equipped with a gutter system covering the entire perimeter. Gutter risers are placed at each slope or install two pipes, depending on the length of the sloping plane
For structurally complex roofs, including several options for roof structures, gutter systems are built for each component
Rain gutter system
Standard gutter
The drainage funnel is connected to the gutter
Downspout - Vertical Riser
Discharge of water from a drainpipe to stormwater
Gutter gutter system
Gutter and hip roof gutter
Gutter system of structurally complex roof
Features of metal systems
Gutters used to be made of zinc and copper. However, the first metal was too susceptible to corrosion and short-lived, and the second - very expensive. Zinc, if now used, is only in the form of an alloy with titanium. More often it is used simply for galvanizing steel.
It is galvanized steel gutters and pipes that are mostly offered by sellers when the buyer asks to show a metal drain.
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Tiered metal gutter
Copper drainage system
Resistance to external influences
Polymeric protective and decorative shell
Material # 1: Galvanized
Steel products are the most affordable version of a metal drain. They are made of cold rolled steel, which is coated with a layer of zinc.
Such eastern systems have a long service life (if the zinc coating is not damaged), resistance to UV and temperature extremes. They can withstand large amounts of snow without breaking without breaking in the winter.
A significant drawback of the steel gutter is the large weight of the system in the assembly - it is necessary to fix the gutters with a small step between the suspensions, which increases the complexity of installation
To give the gutter structure a more presentable appearance and increase the service life, galvanization is coated with polymers:
- Pural (PUR);
- plastisol (PVC, PVC);
- polyester (PE or MPE).
Pural coating is resistant to mechanical damage, ultraviolet and belongs to the middle price segment. A steel gutter with it will last 30–35 years without replacement.
Plastisol (polyvinyl chloride) is characterized by a wide range of color solutions and low cost. However, under the influence of UV rays, it softens and deforms. Its service life is up to half a century, but not in the southern regions with high insolation.
Regular polyester (PE) is cheap, it easily tolerates ultraviolet radiation, but it is easily scratched even by ice. This coating will last 10-15 years. Then the protection will disappear, and moisture will begin to destroy the steel base. It has a more durable analogue with the addition of Teflon - MPE. However, unlike PE, this color option is limited only by shades of gray.
In fact, all such polymer-coated gutters are a direct analogue of metal roofing, they are made using the same technology
If the roof is metal, then the elements of the eastern system are best chosen from a similar material with an identical multilayer structure. So the term of operation before repair they will have a common, the replacement of the roof and drains can be made subsequently together at the same time.
Material # 2: Aluminum Zinc (Galvalyum)
Galvalyum is called steel coated with an alloy of aluminum and zinc (Al + Zn) with the addition of silicon. This material surpasses ordinary galvanization by several times in heat resistance, coating strength and its corrosion resistance. He is not afraid of acid rain and ultraviolet light.
And to get a scratch on it, you have to try hard. Snow and ice are not able to harm him.
The drain from galvalyum will last three times longer than that made of galvanized steel - a film of aluminum oxide provides reliable protection to the steel base, and zinc only strengthens it
Zinc has a higher electrochemical potential compared to iron. As a result, it gradually “dissolves”, leveling only the oxides that begin to form on steel. Corrosion simply cannot get through such a protective layer to the base metal.
Material # 3: Titanium Zinc
This alloy is also inherent in high rates of corrosion resistance and strength. It consists of titanium, copper and zinc. The first metal is responsible for reducing the susceptibility to corrosion, the second for ductility, and the third serves as the basis.
These metal gutters can be mounted on roofs of any shape, they bend without problems, without breaking.
Titanium-zinc products are durable (100–120 years of operation), but are 4–5 times more expensive than metal-plastic analogues
Water is not afraid of titanium-zinc, it is an ideal alloy for the construction of drains. Its main problem is susceptibility to electrocorrosion. In contact with copper or iron, it begins to inevitably collapse. And practically nothing can be done with this. It remains only to exclude such contact. If the roof is covered with copper sheets, then the drain is better to take from another metal.
Material # 4: Aluminum
Compared to steel, aluminum gutters are lighter and less susceptible to corrosive processes. The lightness of the metal allows the walls of pipes and gutters to be made thicker. At the same time, such a drainage system does not unnecessarily load the fasteners, but is able to withstand significant loads from snow, ice and water.
An oxide film is naturally formed on the aluminum surface, which protects the metal from corrosion, and if damaged, it restores itself
Aluminum calmly tolerates frosts, the sun and mechanical shock. It is durable, but noisy and relatively expensive. If the cottage has poor sound insulation, then every drop of rain falling into a similar drainage system will be perfectly audible inside.
Often, aluminum gutters are coated with polymer paint. This increases the corrosion protection and allows the product to be painted in color from the RAL catalog. For the roof of the house, you can choose the aluminum elements of the drainage system as a noble silver shade, and with any other color. In this respect, aluminum outperforms many metal competitors.
Material # 5: Copper
The copper drain is a fusion of luxury and aesthetics in the exterior of a private house. It will cost a round sum, but with proper installation it will last as long as the building itself will stand. Copper is durable, durable and does not deform in heat or cold. Scratches and a natural patina give it only elegance. And it is completely indifferent to ultraviolet.
Copper and corrosion are incompatible concepts, over time, the surface of the copper drain will only oxidize and is slightly covered with a patina of a noble greenish or reddish color
A metal gutter system made of copper reflects the refined taste of the owner of the cottage, as well as its financial viability. Such a drain is worth a lot of money. Not for nothing that all products from this metal belong to the elite class. But on the other hand, copper drainage on the roof will certainly last more than a hundred years.
Have you decided to buy metal gutters for the roof of your house? In this case, we recommend that you detailed instructions for installing them yourself.
Specificity of Plastic Structures
Modern plastic products are resistant to damage and moisture, do not fade for a long time in the sun and are extremely easy to install on the roof. Plastic gutter systems are cheaper than metal. But in terms of wear resistance and a service life of 10–15 years, the former are much worse than the latter.
In stores you can find plastic gutters from:
- polyvinyl chloride (PVC);
- polypropylene;
- polyethylene.
The most popular option is PVC. It tolerates air temperatures within the range of -15 ... + 60 ° С without any problems. In the southern regions, this is quite a worthy competitor to one or another metal. But for roofs of buildings in the North, a drain from PVC is better not to take. Two other polymers become brittle during freezing and crack due to minimal external impact.
Polypropylene and polyethylene gutters are designed for installation both inside and outside buildings. When choosing plastic structures for outdoor installation, the operating temperature range of the system should be considered.
Russian climatic conditions do not shine with moderation and thermal warmth. Low frost resistance for plastic gutters is a huge minus. According to reviews, drainpipes even made of PVC in the middle lane are often torn apart from the inside by ice in winter. In this regard, plastic can not keep up with metal.
Plastic gutters often break in the spring under a load of snow and ice. And in the summer in the heat, they sag due to the fact that PVC softens and “floats”.
To avoid these problems, you have to install the fasteners in small increments and lay the heating cable. This is an additional cost, but in the case of a plastic gutter, nothing else.
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Plastic gutter system
Expansion Compensated Connectors
Installing the polymer structure in the shade
Gutter structure on a brick facade
However, drainage systems made of plastic have many positive aspects:
- Good sound absorption.
- Easy installation.
- Possibility of installation with any type of roofing.
- Excellent anti-corrosion properties of the material.
- Low cost - 2-3 times cheaper than a galvanized metal competitor.
- A smooth surface that does not trap foliage and other debris.
- Extensive range of colors.
By the totality of the characteristics, the plastic drain is a little worse than the metal one. But if you need an inexpensive design for DIY assembly, then PVC pipes, gutters and funnels are best suited. But we must remember that in the event of a breakdown an element of the drainage system made of plastic will have to be completely replaced, it is impossible to repair it.
How to choose gutters?
The choice between plastic and metal is due to many factors. The drainage system is not something independent. It must match the material of the roof and the shape of the roof.
When choosing a drainage system, you need to focus on:
- roof slope area;
- financial opportunities;
- climatic conditions (rain and snow volumes, air temperature during the year);
- building facade design;
- laid roofing material.
If there is a chance of ice formation, then it is best to opt for a metal drain. This also applies to the situation with heavy rainfall and severe frosts. In this case, the plastic should be immediately put aside.
If the roof is made of copper, then it is better to select gutters for the roof copper - cheap plastic structures in such a neighborhood will look too poor
If the house is covered with metal tiles or decking, then the best choice would be a metal drain made of galvanized steel with a polymer coating to the color of the roofing material.
And for made of flexible tiles or other soft roofs, the option of plastic is more suitable. Under the slate, it is also worth taking a plastic design.
A lot when choosing a gutter depends on financial opportunities. First, you need to calculate the required number of typical elements for the assembly of gutters. How to do this correctly, we examined in the next article.
If, due to a lack of funds for covering the roof, cheap materials were chosen, then it makes little sense to spend money on a drainage system from copper. This is impractical and will look ridiculous.
It is better to install plastic pipes and gutters in this situation, and next year invest in a new roof and gutters in full.
The following videos will surely help you understand the question of how to correctly select the elements of a system for removing water from the roof. There are many nuances in this topic, it is better to exclude errors in advance.
Comparison of metal and plastic gutters:
An example of drainage systems is the choice between plastic and metal construction:
An example of the manufacture of homemade gutters in the following video:
Without a drainage system, a house is doomed to destruction. Uncontrolled water flows from the roof will ruin the facade, and then destroy the foundation.
When choosing a metal or plastic drain, you should carefully look at what plastic or metal it is made of. In both groups there are many options with different characteristics. In some cases, galvanizing or aluminum will be optimal, and in others it will be better to purchase PVC.
Have practical experience in choosing and installing a drainage system and want to share it with other users? Maybe you do not agree with the theoretical information specified in the article? Or do you have a different opinion on this? Describe your view on this issue - leave your comments under our article, add a photo of your drain.