Advantages and disadvantages of a plastic gutter system

To protect the building and its foundations from the negative effects of rain / snowfall, it is important to take the drainage device seriously. PVC drainage systems are very popular. Technical characteristics of the material plus favorable prices for communication elements allow the products to hold leading positions for more than one year.

The device and technical characteristics of the plastic drainage system

The gutter system made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) exactly repeats the complete set of metal sills. Communication consists of the following elements:

• horizontal gutters for collecting wastewater from the entire roof surface;
• funnels into which rain runoff from trays falls;
• vertical pipes transporting water downward;
• knees - necessary for the device of vertical sections of the system bypassing the protrusions at the building box

In addition, the PVC system contains special fastening clamps, brackets, and rubber seals. Due to the precise parameters, convenient joining of elements, the gutter is collected quickly.

The main technical characteristics of polymer drainage systems:

• Frost resistance up to -25 degrees. The polymer does not crack, does not lose its strength.
• Inert to aggressive media, acids, alkalis.
• Lack of response to ultraviolet radiation.
• Good sound absorption. Even in a heavy downpour, water flows almost silently through the gutters and pipes.
• The low weight does not make the overall structure of the house heavier, which means it does not put additional pressure on the foundation.
• Excellent throughput, provided that the cross-section of pipes, funnels, gutters is correctly selected.
• Flammability class G2 - polymer does not burn. At a temperature of +120 degrees, it will melt, releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Polymer gutters are prone to linear expansion at positive temperatures and have moderate plasticity - they cannot break under the load of rainwater runoffs.

Installation and operation of a PVC drainage system

One of the positive features of PVC drainage is the simple installation. It is enough to dock the trays together until they snap into place. Previously, a rubber seal is placed in each groove of the gutter. In general, the process of installing drainage looks like this:

• At the stage of roofing, brackets are attached to the frontal board of the frame with self-tapping screws. The step of their arrangement is 50-70 cm, depending on the section of the trays. The smaller it is, the larger the step can be.
• In the process of fixing the brackets, they are bent so that in the future the trays have a slope towards the funnel of at least 3-5 mm for each running meter. The slope is primarily determined using a control cord.
• A funnel is mounted, which in the future will also act as a connecting element.
• All trays, assembled in a single line, necessarily protrude from under the roofing material by 2/3 or 1/2.
• It is allowed to make a section of the drainage system with a maximum length of 24 meters to the receiving funnel. If on the side of the building the length of the trays is greater, then a separate funnel and vertical pipe are needed for every 20 meters.
• The vertical drain should be located at a distance of 5-8 cm from the wall. This will exclude vibration and shock against the wall during the drainage process.
• The tube is fixed to the wall with special clamps with a step of 1 meter.

It is possible to mount a PVC drainage system at a minimum temperature of +5 degrees. This will ensure the wear resistance of the material in case of accidental impacts, falls.

When operating a PVC drain, the following rules apply:

• To secure the breakage of the trays under the mass of snow coming down from the roofs, it is important to install snow holders on the roof. They will temporarily fix the layers of the ice crust and ensure its smooth melting.
• Twice a year (in spring and autumn), you need to clean the gutters of dry debris, branches, foliage. Otherwise, the funnel or vertical pipe will become clogged.
• When cleaning the gutter, you need to rinse its horizontal and vertical sections. If a blockage is found, it is removed with a cable with a soft nozzle.

Sharp cable ends without a rubber seal at the end will damage the smooth polymer wall of the pipe. This will lead to possible silting up of the system in the future.

Advantages and disadvantages

Experienced craftsmen note the following positive features of PVC gutters:

• Light weight. Transportation and installation are not difficult.
• Easy to install. The master can cope with the device of the system without outside help.
• The thickness of the walls of the products is 2.2-3.3 mm, which ensures silent transportation of wastewater around the perimeter of the building.
• Excellent durability. Even under high loads, PVC does not deform.
• Lack of corrosion. It is provided due to the fact that the system does not provide for metal parts.
• Absolute tightness. Correctly collected drainage does not flow even with a large amount of precipitation.
• Polyvinyl chloride is an inert medium for the reproduction and growth of microorganisms. The formation of mold on the surface of the polymer is excluded even with prolonged operation of the weir.
• Wide range of colors. You can choose trays, funnels, pipes and all accessories to match the shade of the roofing material or the building box. At the same time, all the elements retain their brightness and shine for a long time due to the special technology of their manufacture. Even when exposed to ultraviolet light, polyvinyl chloride does not fade.

Some masters assure that the polymer gutter needs to be dismantled for the winter due to the fact that it deforms at low temperatures. But this is nothing more than fiction. Practice has confirmed that polyvinyl chloride calmly reacts to operation at temperatures down to -15 degrees.

To prevent the water in the gutters from freezing on days of active snow melting and night frosts, a heating cable can be laid under them.

The cost of plastic gutters

Prices for plastic roof drainage systems vary depending on the manufacturer of the products and the cross-section of pipes, trays, funnels. Average cost of weir elements:

Tees, clamps, funnels, vertical plastic pipes are somewhat cheaper than gutters. Based on this, you can roughly calculate how much a fully assembled communication will cost.

Correctly mounted gutter is guaranteed to protect the stone box of the building and its foundation from constant exposure to moisture, mold growth, and further deformation.