Listed/Heritage
St Mary’s Church, Kettering
St Mary’s Church, based in Kettering, is a Victorian church built in 1893 and required some much-needed care and attention. As part of the roof refurbishment, the original cast iron rainwater system had to be replaced, although it had lasted for more than 120 years.
When considering a rainwater system for a historic building, several factors need to be taken into consideration. Namely, which profiles would retain the aesthetics of the Church and its surroundings, the choice of materials to be used, the budget available and, importantly, if the predicted rainfall intensity would mean a change in gutter sizing?
Warkton Roofing was the appointed contractor. ARP Account Manager Nigel Hancock met with Bob Lockley, Managing Director, on-site to discuss the requirements of the new rainwater system and carry out a full site measure.
With rainfall intensity and budget being key factors and due to the roof pitch and effective roof area, the chosen option was ARP’s Legacy No. 46 ogee gutter on the high-level roofs and Legacy plain half round gutter on the lower roofs with additional downpipes to aid the flow of rainwater from the roof. The Legacy gutters, Colonnade aluminium rainwater pipes and hoppers all imitate the Victorian style of the profiles being replaced.
Aluminium was chosen instead of cast iron for this project for its low maintenance, lightweight, yet durable properties.
By polyester powder coating the rainwater system in a heritage type RAL 9005 Black Leatherette finish, it mimics the cast iron aesthetics and will not need repainting for at least 30 years. Aluminium does not rust or corrode and will not crack or fade, needing very little maintenance.
Aluminium is a more cost-effective option than cast iron, especially when upgrading the number of downpipes to provide a quick and effective rain flow from the roof. Aluminium is much lighter and easier to install, meaning less fitting time on site.
Being abundantly available and easily recyclable, this rainwater system was made from recycled aluminium and can be further recycled at the end of its useful life, which is expected to be in excess of 60 years, a truly sustainable and eco-friendly choice, unlike other some other rainwater materials available.
Bob Lockley, Managing Director of Warkton Roofing said “ARP provided an invaluable service by visiting site, carrying out a site measure and advising us on the best products to address the key factors of aesthetics, budget and material choice for this refurbishment project.”
When choosing a new rainwater system, make sure you consider all the factors to ensure the rainwater system meets all your criteria.
ARP would be pleased to provide quotations, samples, site visits and technical advice.
We can offer short lead times and over 30 years of industry experience, so let us help you get the desired results.
| Sector | Location | Contractor |
|---|---|---|
| Listed/Heritage | Kettering | Warkton Roofing |
