Freefoam: Deep guttering – the first line of defence against extreme rainfall

Climate change is making extreme weather a more commonplace event in the UK. A potential solution is to install deep guttering to ensure homes are sufficiently equipped to deal with increasing rainfall, says Colin St John, Commercial Director at Freefoam…

“On 3 October 2020, enough rain to fill Loch Ness fell in the UK in one day – a staggering 7.4 cubic kilometres of water. Ordinarily, this would have been a one in 300-year event, but due to climate change, the likelihood of such an event is now 10 times more likely and we could see it as frequently as every 30 years if measures to combat global warming are unsuccessful.

In fact, all the scientific evidence is pointing to our already wet climate getting even wetter. A recent study exploring the effect of greenhouse gases on European winter rainfall patterns suggests we are at greater risk of increased rainfall in winter, spring and autumn, and at a greater risk of extremely high seasonal rainfall events.

For contractors, the changing weather conditions are becoming a factor when specifying and fitting guttering products. Rainwater gutter systems should be able to manage increased levels of water, but, unfortunately, many existing installations will not be a match for the increased flow of rainwater we can expect to get in the future. Contractors may, therefore, see increased number of homes with persistent water ingress and the potential for serious and very costly damage to the property, particularly in areas of the UK that currently experience high rainfall.

Enter deep guttering

One solution to the issue is deep gutter. With 50% more capacity than round gutter, it can channel rainfall away quickly and is ideal for steep or large roofs where large volumes of water are collected.

Able to blend with existing round gutter, deep gutter can be used for both traditional and modern properties. For older properties, where the existing gutter doesn’t have sufficient outlets to deal with increased levels of rainfall, its high flow capacity can be a more cost-effective alternative to digging and laying new drainage.

For newer properties, it can be used to increase overall capacity. This is particularly important for those homes with new extensions to ensure the property’s rainwater guttering is adequate to handle higher volumes of rain. Again, in this scenario, a deep gutter will negate the need for any additional drainage or soakaways.

The benefits of deep gutter

There are a number of deep gutter products available on the market, such as Freefoam’s Freeflow® deep gutter range. So, what should contractors be looking for in a deep gutter system?

The first thing to look for is the colour. A white interior will be exposed to sunlight as normal but its absorption of heat from the sun and the subsequent expansion along its width and length will be significantly reduced, dramatically decreasing the probability of any associated problems.

Of course, homeowners will be keen to choose the exterior colour of their gutter to ensure a flawless finish. The Freeflow® deep gutter blends in with existing round guttering and is available in white, black, brown and anthracite grey for a whole house finish. We also do a cast iron-style version.

It goes without saying that watertight joints are a must to ensure deep gutter systems work at their optimum. Our Freeflow® gutter accessories use a flexible compression seal which is both watertight and allows the gutters to move without any noise or creating gaps which cause leaks.

We also offer a 50-year lifetime guarantee on registered white Freeflow® installations. As a contractor, a longer guarantee provides peace of mind that any issues will be resolved by the manufacturer for many years to come.

Most homes are installed with standard capacity rainwater guttering, but as more areas across the UK start to see higher rainfall, deep gutter is becoming an important consideration. Whether it’s for new or existing buildings, deep guttering can be used as an upgrade, but in some areas of the UK it might be considered a must-have to protect our properties against the elements today and in years to come.”

Discover more by calling 0800 002 9903, visiting www.freefoam.com and following @Freefoam.

Contact:

Freefoam Building Products,
77-83 St James Mill Road,
Northampton,
NN5 5JP
United Kingdom

Tel: 01604 591110

Visit the Freefoam website

Visit Supplier's page