GRP For Heritage Buildings

 

When maintaining a heritage or listed building, it’s important to maintain its traditional aesthetic whilst also complying with health and safety regulations. Faults in older buildings can pose safety risks to the public, particularly if it is a building which is regularly used by people, such as a church.

A faulty or deteriorating rainwater system is an example of this, and not only could it be a safety hazard, it could also compromise the structure of the building. If rainwater isn’t being safely and correctly drained away from the building, it can damage the foundations and grounds around it. However, replacing a rainwater system on a heritage building can be tricky as it contributes largely to the aesthetic of the building.

Cast iron or lead rainwater systems are most common on older buildings, as it was a material used widely in the last century. Instead of installing a new metal system, GRP is a good replacement. GRP stands for glass reinforced plastic, a durable and lightweight material which can still provide a traditional or period look.

GRP can be finished to have a traditional aesthetic, meaning your building keeps its charm, but it has all of the capabilities of a modern rainwater system. Once finished, it looks similar to cast iron but has a much lower price point. As well as this, it is much easier to install as it is so lightweight. These are important things to keep in mind, as you may have a budget and time scale to stick to when maintaining your heritage building.

One of GRP’s best features is its versatility. Older systems often have decorative motifs which add so much character to the building, it can seem a shame to lose them when the system is no longer functional. With GRP, mouldings can be taken of your building’s original castings to be made as a replacement.

Heritage buildings often don’t conform to today’s building standards. With a GRP rainwater system, the guttering can be formed to accommodate roof lines with specific shapes, so you can be assured that the system will function correctly. If your building is listed, it’s possible you may need to adhere to strict conservation rules when it comes to maintaining your building. Our GRP rainwater systems can be adapted to meet your requirements so you are always within code.

Contact us today on 0113 279 5854 or info@rainguard.co.uk to find out more about GRP and to arrange a site survey for your heritage building. Our experts can measure up the building and advise on shapes and styles for your new GRP rainwater system.