It really can seem at times that rain gutters in general really are under-rated. People just really don’t like to think of them, let alone study them. When it comes time to deal with gutters on their home, folks in general just want someone to get up there and “do it”. Either have them installed, clean them out, or “whatever”.
So it really should come as no surprise that of all systems and components on a home, rain gutters really can be among the most problematic.
When it rains they leak and when it’s sunny and all the plants are growing, they end up choked with leaves.
Through it all though, the real irony is that high quality gutters that not only work good, but look good too can make all the difference in the world on a home.
Also a nice high quality system like cast iron gutters require very little maintenance. Maybe just a check up every five years or so.
They aren’t just good for keeping water from dripping off your roof onto your head either. Rather they’re your first line of defense against dry-rot damage at the end of your rafter tails, and along your fascias. In short, “it pays” to have a first rate system on your home.
So then of all products out there why should you even consider looking at cast iron? After all it is one of the more expensive types you can buy, and besides a seamless system sure does solve the leak problems. The simple fact is that cast iron gutters are becoming more popular, and there are several great reasons why.
First of all they are by far the most durable. Even tougher than steel gutters and when they’re painted with a good high quality primer and a good top coat, they’re impervious to all types of weather conditions. In short, they can last pretty much forever.
In fact there are cast iron gutter systems right now on older homes in Europe, Latin America and Europe that are literally hundreds of years old, and and they’re still in working order. It’s just that durable.
Now they’re not only the most durable, they “look durable” too, and there’s just no imitating the look of a solid, quality made quality product on a home. Whether it’s doors, windows hardware, or “whatever”, the look of durable and lasting quality just never goes out of style.
Cast iron rain gutters are quieter too and the next time it rains take a “good listen” at your gutter downspouts. If you have standard steel gutters you’ll plainly hear the water as it splashed through the down-pipes to the ground.
In fact you may not know this, but if you live in a quality built home, you already have cast iron drainage pipes inside your walls.
It’s used in place of plastic in better built homes for that one simple reason. That is that it’s so much quieter when water flows through it.
Then in the end, cast iron is recyclable and in this age when people are looking for more ways to make home building more environmentally friendly, this is but one. You see, no building lasts for ever so some day “every home” will have used up its service life.
The fact is that the longer that takes, the more it’s important that you use recyclable materials today. One hundred, two hundred, or even three hundred years from now, virtually anything that can be re-used from a demolished building will be.
