Marley Alutec was recently specified by the architectural practice, Robinson Clark Ltd, to supply aluminium guttering downpipes, soffit and fascia, for a new church hall in Tweentown, Cheddar. The bold aesthetic and durable qualities of the aluminium system met the criteria for a striking guttering system that would be integral to the overall exterior design.
The new church hall was built for the parishioners of Our Lady Queen of Apostles Church in Tweentown, and to allow activities and community events to take place. Architect Kelly Clark, of Robinson Clark Ltd, had responsibility for its design and wanted to ensure it would be both welcoming and bold, whilst simultaneously complementing the surrounding countryside landscape.
As part of the overall design, Kelly needed to specify a guttering system and commented:
“Aluminium stood out because of its aesthetic qualities, but also its durability. I wanted a product that would help to achieve a modern and striking statement in terms of colour and design, but crucially it needed to maintain this over a long period of time, so had to withstand a range of weather conditions.”
Aluminium’s durability is largely due to the thin layer of oxide it develops, which prevents further oxidation. If damaged, the layer repairs itself. In this way, corrosion is avoided, and ongoing maintenance is minimised. This also means that there are ecological benefits to using aluminium, with environmentally negative restoration processes being avoided. Moreover, since it is an infinitely recyclable and low weight material it leaves an exceptionally low carbon footprint, another important component for this project.
To help identify the most suitable aluminium products from the company’s wide portfolio, Marley Alutec’s local Area Sales Manager (ASM) met with the contractor, Steve Robinson and then supplied product samples on site. The samples were shared with the architect of the project which was key to winning over the end client regarding specification. This led to the selection of Alutec’s Evolve Box gutter range. Aside from providing a squared and tidy aesthetic, this range also ensures quality performance, with the 130x85mm Box gutter allowing a flow rate of up to 7.01 litres per second. With 72x72mm squared Flushift downpipe system available with the Evolve Box, the latter was selected in keeping with the squared aesthetic. In addition, Fascia Type B and unvented soffit were also chosen; two products that are available in a range of sizes and are ideal for usage on all buildings.
The colour chosen was anthracite grey (RAL 7016), which was to help complement the contemporary design of the hall, requiring only two days lead time. Marley Alutec’s colouring process ensures that the guttering will retain its colour throughout its 50 + years functional life expectancy.
Steve Robinson commented,
“The Alutec products were really easy to install allowing for a very neat and tidy finish. The brackets were not visible, which further enhanced the modern and contemporary look of the build. The support offered by the company was equally fantastic, with Marley Alutec’s local ASM always available on site to point us in the right direction.”
To find out more about Alutec products, please visit: www.marleyalutec.co.uk