Which gutter is better - plastic or metal? Comparative review

The gutter system is an integral part of the roof of any building. According to the device, it is internal and external. Structurally, it includes pipes, gutters, funnels, bends, elbows and other components.

For the manufacture of these elements, different materials are used. It is difficult to choose the appropriate type of drain from the range of products offered, but do not want to overpay? Let's get together to figure out which gutter is better - plastic or metal, for which we carefully compare in the framework of this article all the characteristics of the systems offered on the market.

We will also give recommendations to potential buyers on choosing the optimal drainage system, providing the material with video tips and photo illustrations.

Which is better: plastic vs metal?

It is impossible to get rid of rain and melt water by definition. Residential and non-residential buildings must somehow be protected from their effects, otherwise the walls, roof and foundation will not last long.

If there is no gutter system on the roof, then not only the exterior finish, but also its supporting structures will quickly begin to collapse. Better to spend money and make an effective drainthan then overhaul the entire building.

If the drainage system is designed unprofessionally, then the facade, walls, blinds and foundations will suffer from water flowing from the roof

All elements of the drain according to the material of manufacture can be divided into two groups:

• metal;
• plastic.

The first group includes products from steel, copper, zinc and aluminum, and the second from PVC, polypropylene and polyethylene. And each of these materials has its own merits.

In short, galvanized or polymer-coated steel, unlike plastic, does not change its geometry in the sun and does not burst from ice freezing inside. Copper and zinc elements of the drain will last the longest, but they are also the most expensive. Plastic drains are distinguished by a variety of color solutions and low cost.

However, the choice of material for manufacturing the roof spillway system is highly dependent on the configuration of the roof, the amount of precipitation, and the average annual temperature in the region where the building was built.

Before you go to the store to purchase a drain, you must study all the nuances of the proposed options. In some cases, you can do with inexpensive plastic, while in others it is better to take something from metal.

Features of metal systems

Gutters used to be made of zinc and copper. However, the first metal was too susceptible to corrosion and short-lived, and the second - very expensive. Zinc, if now used, is only in the form of an alloy with titanium. More often it is used simply for galvanizing steel.

It is galvanized steel gutters and pipes that are mostly offered by sellers when a buyer asks to show a metal drain.

Material # 1: Galvanized

Steel products are the most affordable version of a metal drain. They are made of cold rolled steel, which is coated with a layer of zinc.

Such eastern systems have a long service life (if the zinc coating is not damaged), resistance to UV and temperature extremes. They can withstand large volumes of snow without breaking without breaking in the winter.

A significant drawback of the steel gutter is the large weight of the system in the assembly - it is necessary to fix the gutters with a small step between the suspensions, which increases the complexity of installation

To give the gutter structure a more presentable appearance and increase the service life, galvanization is coated with polymers:

• Pural (PUR);
• plastisol (PVC, PVC);
• polyester (PE or MPE).

Pural coating is resistant to mechanical damage, ultraviolet and belongs to the middle price segment. A steel gutter with it will last 30–35 years without replacement.

Plastisol (polyvinyl chloride) is distinguished by a wide range of color solutions and low cost. However, under the influence of UV rays, it softens and deforms. Its service life is up to half a century, but not in the southern regions with high insolation.

Regular polyester (PE) is cheap, it easily tolerates ultraviolet radiation, but it is easily scratched even by ice. This coating will last 10-15 years. Then the protection will disappear, and moisture will begin to destroy the steel base. It has a more durable analogue with the addition of Teflon - MPE. However, unlike PE, this color option is limited only by shades of gray.

In fact, all such gutters with a polymer coating are a direct analogue of a metal tile, they are made using the same technologies

If the roof is metal, then the elements of the eastern system are best chosen from a similar material with an identical multilayer structure. So the life expectancy before repair they will have a common, the replacement of the roof and drains can be made subsequently together at the same time.

Material # 2: Aluminum Zinc (Galvalyum)

Galvalyum is called steel coated with an alloy of aluminum and zinc (Al + Zn) with the addition of silicon. This material surpasses conventional galvanization by several times in heat resistance, coating strength and its corrosion resistance. He is not afraid of acid rain and ultraviolet light.

And to get a scratch on it, you have to try hard. Snow and ice are not able to harm him.

The drain from galvalyum will last three times longer than that made of galvanized steel - a film of aluminum oxide provides reliable protection to the steel base, and zinc only strengthens it

Zinc has a higher electrochemical potential compared to iron. As a result, it gradually “dissolves”, leveling only the oxides that begin to form on steel. Corrosion simply cannot get through such a protective layer to the base metal.

Material # 3: Titanium Zinc

This alloy is also inherent in high rates of corrosion resistance and strength. It consists of titanium, copper and zinc. The first metal is responsible for reducing the susceptibility to corrosion, the second for ductility, and the third serves as the basis.

These metal gutters can be mounted on roofs of any shape, they bend without problems, without breaking.

Titanium-zinc products are durable (100–120 years of operation), but are 4–5 times more expensive than metal-plastic analogues

Water is not afraid of titanium-zinc, it is an ideal alloy for the construction of drains. Its main problem is susceptibility to electrocorrosion. Contacting with copper or iron, it begins to inevitably collapse. And practically nothing can be done with this. It remains only to exclude such contact. If the roof is covered with copper sheets, then the drain is better to take from another metal.

Material # 4: Aluminum

Compared to steel, aluminum gutters are lighter and less susceptible to corrosion. The lightness of the metal allows the walls of pipes and gutters to be made thicker. At the same time, such a drainage system does not unnecessarily load the fasteners, but is able to withstand significant loads from snow, ice and water.

An oxide film is naturally formed on the aluminum surface, which protects the metal from corrosion, and if damaged, it restores itself

Aluminum calmly tolerates frosts, the sun and mechanical shock. It is durable, but noisy and relatively expensive. If the cottage has poor sound insulation, then every drop of rain falling into a similar drainage system will be perfectly audible inside.

Often, aluminum gutters are covered with polymer paint by manufacturers. This increases the corrosion protection and allows the product to be painted in color from the RAL catalog. For the roof of the house, you can choose the aluminum elements of the drainage system as a noble silver shade, and with any other color. In this regard, aluminum outperforms many metal competitors.

Material # 5: Copper

The copper drain is a fusion of luxury and aesthetics in the exterior of a private house. It will cost a round sum, but with proper installation it will last as long as the building itself will stand. Copper is wear-resistant, durable and does not deform in heat or cold. Scratches and a natural patina give it only elegance. And it is completely indifferent to ultraviolet.

Copper and corrosion are incompatible concepts, over time, the surface of the copper drain will only oxidize and is slightly covered with a patina of a noble greenish or reddish color

A metal gutter system made of copper reflects the refined taste of the owner of the cottage, as well as its financial viability. Such a drain is worth a lot of money. Not for nothing that all products from this metal belong to the elite class. But then the copper drainage system on the roof will certainly last more than a hundred years.

Have you decided to buy metal gutters for the roof of your house? In this case, we recommend that you detailed instructions do-it-yourself installation.

Specificity of Plastic Structures

Modern plastic products are resistant to damage and moisture, do not fade for a long time in the sun and are extremely easy to install on the roof. Plastic gutter systems are cheaper than metal. But in terms of wear resistance and a service life of 10–15 years, the former are much worse than the latter.

In stores you can find plastic gutters from:

• polyvinyl chloride (PVC);
• polypropylene;
• polyethylene.

The most popular option is PVC. It tolerates air temperatures within the range of -15 ... + 60 ° C without any problems. In the southern regions, this is quite a worthy competitor to one or another metal. But for roofs of buildings in the North, a drain from PVC is better not to take. Two other polymers become brittle during freezing and crack due to minimal external impact.

Polypropylene and polyethylene gutters are designed for installation both inside and outside buildings. When choosing plastic structures for outdoor installation, the operating temperature range of the system should be considered.

Russian climatic conditions do not shine with moderation and thermal warmth. Low frost resistance for plastic gutters is a huge minus. According to reviews, drainpipes even made of PVC in the middle lane are often torn apart from the inside by ice in winter. In this regard, the plastic can not keep up with the metal.

Plastic gutters often break in the spring under a load of snow and ice. And in the summer in the heat, they sag due to the fact that PVC softens and “floats”.

To avoid these problems, you have to install fasteners with a small step and lay heating cable. This is an additional cost, but in the case of a plastic gutter, nothing else.

However, drainage systems made of plastic have many positive aspects:

1. Good sound absorption.
2. Easy installation.
3. Possibility of installation with any type of roofing.
4. Excellent anti-corrosion properties of the material.
5. Low cost - 2–3 times cheaper than a galvanized metal competitor.
6. A smooth surface that does not trap foliage and other debris.
7. Extensive range of colors.

By the totality of the characteristics, the plastic drain is a little behind the metal one. But if you need an inexpensive design for DIY assembly, then PVC pipes, gutters and funnels are best suited. But we must remember that in the event of a breakdown an element of the drainage system made of plastic will have to be completely replaced, it is impossible to repair it.

How to choose gutters?

The choice between plastic and metal is due to many factors. The drainage system is not something independent. It must match the material of the roof and the shape of the roof.

When choosing a drainage system, you need to focus on:

• roof slope area;
• financial opportunities;
• climatic conditions (rain and snow volumes, air temperature during the year);
• building facade design;
• laid roofing material.

If there is a chance of ice formation, then it is best to opt for a metal drain. This also applies to the situation with heavy rainfall and severe frosts. In this case, the plastic should be immediately put aside.

If the roof is made of copper, then it is better to select the gutters for the roof copper - cheap plastic structures in such a neighborhood would look too poor

If the house is covered with metal tiles or decking, then the best choice would be a metal drain made of galvanized steel with a polymer coating to the color of the roofing material.

And for made of flexible tiles or other soft roofs, the option of plastic is more suitable. Under the slate, it is also worth taking a plastic design.

A lot when choosing a gutter depends on financial opportunities. First you need to calculate the required number of typical elements for the assembly of gutters. How to do this, we examined in next article.

If, due to a lack of funds for covering the roof, cheap materials were chosen, then it makes little sense to spend money on a drainage system from copper. This is impractical and will look ridiculous.

It is better to install plastic pipes and gutters in such a situation, and next year invest in a new roof and gutters in full.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

The following videos will surely help you understand the question of how to correctly select the elements of a system for removing water from the roof. There are many nuances in this topic, it is better to eliminate errors in advance.

Comparison of metal and plastic gutters:

An example of drainage systems is the choice between plastic and metal construction:

An example of the manufacture of homemade gutters in the following video:

Without a drainage system, a house is doomed to destruction. Uncontrolled water flows from the roof will ruin the facade, and then destroy the foundation.

When choosing a metal or plastic gutter, you should carefully look at what plastic or metal it is made of. In both groups, there are many options with different characteristics. In some cases, galvanizing or aluminum will be optimal, and in others it will be better to purchase PVC.

Do you have practical experience in choosing and installing a drainage system and want to share it with other users? Maybe you do not agree with the theoretical information specified in the article? Or do you have a different opinion on this? Describe your view on this issue - leave your comments under our article, add a photo of your drain.