Aligator rainwater systems help Warren Wood Manor retain lavish charm

The historic Warren Wood Manor in Hertfordshire has undergone a sensitive refurbishment project to improve building performance, which has included the specification and installation of Marley Alutec aluminium rainwater products in a textured Heritage Black finish.

The project began in September 2013, as developers looked to update some of the manor’s older features that were no longer fit for purpose. 

When evaluating options for downpipes, lead developer Tony Penfold eventually chose Marley Alutec’s Aligator range for its traditional appearance and the superior performance of aluminium products when used in rainwater goods.

The £19 million mansion has been fitted with an Aligator Ogee No.46 rainwater system and 102mm traditional circular downpipe. The Ogee No.46 rainwater system is durable and strong, and features internal joints and concealed brackets for a sleek and unobtrusive solution.

The property’s carriage house has been equipped with the Alligator Classic rainwater system and benefits from a 63mm Aligator Classic circular downpipe. 

The use of marine-grade aluminium makes the Aligator range approximately 65 percent lighter than cast iron downpipes and will last for up to 50 years. The range also benefits from a 40 percent reduction on installation times compared to traditional bolted systems due to the patented Aligator Snap-fit system. 

Whilst available in a range of colours, the contractors on the Warren Wood Manor project exclusively used Heritage Black, with an architectural grade polyester powder coat paint finish, to fit with the traditional aesthetic of the historic building.

Tony Penfold, the lead developer on the project, commented on the specification of Marley Alutec products: 

“When dealing with a house of such tradition one does not want to unbalance the existing aesthetic, as such the Aligator traditional pipe was a perfect fit. They offer such an unobtrusive solution, allowing the building to retain all of its historic charm.

This mansion has been built to stand for many years to come so it’s important we can feel assured that during this period it has a reliable, effective and efficient rainwater system.”