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Why choose cast iron ogee guttering for your home?

Considering cast iron ogee guttering? From ogee to half round, there’s a range of characterful and practical profile styles to explore, but how you can tell which of those is right for your home?

Below, we introduce ogee-style guttering and identify the reasons why this type of rainwater management system might be ideal for your property.

As experts in all things roofline and rainwater, the knowledgeable team at Rainclear is always on hand to assist.

What is ogee guttering?

Moulded ogee guttering refers to a profile of guttering that features a design with a double curve, creating an elongated ‘S’ shape to the front face, and a flat bottom and back which means it can be ‘direct fixed’ to a fascia board.

It’s often described as decorative and elegant, making it a compatible with heritage homes.

This style of guttering gained popularity during the Victorian era, and is therefore ideal for older properties with owners who may want to replace the original guttering with a similar design.

Alternatively, you may decide to opt for ogee guttering based on personal preference because it does make a charming addition to period properties.

This type of profile can be made from a choice of materials, including UPVC, cast aluminium, and cast iron.

While each of these has their own appeal, the remainder of this article will focus on cast iron ogee guttering.

Why should you choose cast iron ogee guttering?

While cast iron guttering provides many benefits, including durability and a long lifespan, there are three distinct reasons for choosing cast iron ogee guttering in particular.

First, you may choose this style and material of guttering simply because it’s what your home already has and some of the components require updating.

Another motive to opt for cast iron ogee guttering is because the property you own is located in a conservation area and you are required to ensure the original architectural features of the building are maintained and protected.

The overall aim of conservation areas is to preserve and enhance the character and appearance of a location.

Alternatively, you may choose cast iron ogee guttering because you want to retain the original character of one of these heritage or traditional-style properties. Regardless of whether you own a 1930s art deco home or a bungalow with a bay window, this style of guttering can look fantastic.

Rainclear System’s cast iron ogee guttering styles

While practical reasons, such as conservation areas as explained above, should be considered, choosing the appropriate cast iron guttering style will also be a matter of personal taste.

Here at Rainclear Systems, we supply two distinct styles of cast iron ogee guttering.

Victorian ogee cast iron guttering

As the name suggests, this style of cast iron ogee guttering isideal for Victorian properties because this style was most commonly used in that era. It boasts an elegant profile that can be described as a very flat, open ‘V’ and can often be found on heritage buildings that are located within conservation areas.

Moulded ogee cast iron guttering

Moulded ogee cast iron guttering, on the other hand, has a deeper profile when compared to the Victorian alternative. The decorative moulded ogee profile is inspired by 19th century examples and is also found on heritage properties in conservation areas.

Cast iron guttering can be supplied by Rainclear from stock, in a choice of sizes, in a primed finish for on-site painting or are pre-painted black for next-day delivery.

In addition to our stocked range, we offer several standard colour options for delivery in 15 days.

Ask a team member if you’re unsure.

What are the other styles of cast iron guttering?

When it comes to cast iron guttering, there are three more styles that you may want to explore if ogee-style guttering doesn’t feel like the best choice for your home.

This includes half-round, deep half-round, and beaded half-round guttering styles, and we explore each of those decorative profiles in more detail below.

Half-round cast iron guttering

Simple half-round cast iron guttering is a great choice for a wide range of properties.

It tends to be popular with a variety of projects due to the authenticity of the style – meaning it complements many traditional style homes – and the fact it can be installed with ease compared to the other profiles.

Beaded half-round cast iron guttering

While similar to the standard half-round guttering style, the beaded variant features a protruding decorative ‘bead’ on either edge.

A popular choice for properties in both northern England and Scotland, this slightly more decorative option is ideal for homeowners that want to add a little more character to the exterior of their property.

Deep half-round cast iron guttering

Typically, half-round guttering is more than suitable for the vast majority of properties. However, for homes with particularly large or steep roofs, deep half-round gutters are more appropriate. Not to mention, the practical deep half-round profile is also ideal for properties located in areas with frequent, heavy rainfall.

Is ogee guttering the best style for cast iron guttering?

As mentioned above, ogee guttering is just one style of cast iron guttering that you can choose.

To determine whether it’s the best style for your home, however, you’ll need to explore the other available options.

The optimum style will be influenced by practical considerations as well as your personal preference.

When deciding which guttering style is right for your home, you should take into consideration the location of the property and the type of roof it has.

If it has a steep or large roof, or the house itself is located in an area with frequent and heavy rainfall, the best option (from a practical point of view) is likely to be the deep half-round gutter profile (as described above).

You’ll also want to consider the style of your property, and whether the ogee styles would complement the character of your home better than the half-round alternative.

If your property is located in either northern England or Scotland, for example, then you may want to opt for the beaded half-round as this decorative style is particularly popular in these areas.

Another practical aspect of guttering style you’ll need to consider is whether you’re replacing only a few components of the cast iron rainwater management system or the system in its entirety.

If you’ve decided on the latter, ensuring an exact match to the previous style typically isn’t necessary (unless stipulated by conservation area regulations/officer).

However, one benefit of cast iron guttering is that the individual components – whether damaged or in deteriorating condition – can be replaced.

It’s important to note, however, that these individual parts will need to be compatible with, and match, the existing guttering to ensure the system remains functional and retains its characterful and distinguished appearance.

Searching for matching ogee-style guttering?

Unfortunately, not all the old ogee profile guttering manufactures are still operating, which means finding suitable replacement components can be difficult for older, heritage homes and Victorian-era properties.

It’s therefore possible that your current ogee guttering isn’t compatible with the cast iron guttering available on our website.

Luckily, however, Rainclear Systems operates a free sample service. You can ask for a 300mm length gutter sample, allowing you to compare this style of guttering to the one you have now at your property.

To find out more, don’t hesitate to give our friendly team a call or contact us online.

What about ogee-style downpipes?

While it makes sense to want a downpipe that matches or at least complements the style of your cast iron ogee guttering, there is no such thing as an ‘ogee downpipe’.

Downpipes can be bought in a round, square or rectangular shape; they cannot be purchased in an ‘ogee style’.

However, square and rectangular downpipes tend to be a more popular choice for pairing with ogee guttering. If you’re unsure which downpipe shape will suit your cast iron guttering, then please ask.

Just like our guttering sample service, we also provide a downpipe sample service.

This allows our customers to compare 300mm length samples in all of our options including the round, square and rectangular downpipe options featuring cast ‘ears’ – essential for a secure installation and the character of cast iron (and cast aluminium which imitates the authentic, traditional sand casting methods of ‘cast’ iron).

How to install cast iron ogee guttering

Cast iron ogee guttering can be installed or mounted onto the fascia board, rafters, or via rise and fall brackets to the façade of a building using the appropriate tools and expertise, but self-installation is not recommended.

While we have created helpful explainer videos for direct fixing both moulded and Victorian ogee guttering, we do recommend seeking advice from a professional before you begin a restoration project.

Not only are cast iron gutters significantly heavier, and therefore more difficult to install than lightweight UPVC or galvanised steel, copper or zinc guttering, the installation process can be more complicated (especially the ogee gutters which are ‘handed’. As are the square and rectangular downpipes).

Instead of attempting this potentially complex guttering installation alone, we suggest reaching out to the knowledgeable team at Rainclear Systems.

As one of the UK’s first specialist stockholders in rainwater products, we can provide expert advice on a fuss-free and effective installation. We can even refer you to our preferred rainwater management system installers!

Shop cast iron ogee guttering at Rainclear Systems

If you’d like to find out more about the cast iron guttering products supplied by Rainclear, don’t hesitate to get in touch today!

Alongside our extensive range of cast iron gutters, you can also shop the matching downpipes and accessories all in one place – made by some of the best UK manufacturers including Alumasc and Hargreaves Foundry.

To speak to a member of our team about your guttering needs, give us a call on 0800 644 44 26.

Alternatively, you can also reach us by sending an email to [email protected] or completing and submitting our online contact form.

Remember to include your contact details alongside a brief description of your enquiry.

Once received, we’ll ensure a team member makes contact soon to find out more.

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