- Specifying cheaper products is a false economy
Ongoing maintenance requirements are a huge area of expense for social housing builders and operators, so choosing durable materials and products is a must. Brian Bell of Marley Alutec, explains how to get the balance right between quality and cost efficiency when specifying rainwater and eaves systems.
In creating affordable but high quality housing, housing associations must walk the tightrope of getting the best performing products without paying the most expensive prices. Specifying cheaper products is a false economy as maintenance and replacement costs soon outweigh the initial savings. Equally, the most expensive products are too cost prohibitive to start with. Finding a happy medium is key.
Gwalia housing association, part of the Pobl Group, recently tackled this exact challenge on a high quality modern social housing development in Swansea, Wales. Consisting of 14 properties, the £1.5 million project embodied the durable, practical and cost effective ethos so needed within the sector.
Looking for rainwater and eaves systems that offered maximum life expectancies, minimal maintenance and competitive whole life costs, Gwalia specified aluminium systems from Marley Alutec.
Strong, lightweight and highly recyclable
High quality aluminium systems offer life expectancies of 50 years or more, long outlasting PVC alternatives, which typically last 10 – 15 years. In addition, if marine grade aluminium is used, the systems are impervious to corrosion meaning they are virtually maintenance free with no need to re-paint – a frequent and costly need on cast iron systems. This vastly reduces on-going costs and improves site safety as scaffolding and working at height is brought to an absolute minimum, as is disturbance to residents.
Aluminium is also extremely strong and lightweight, up to 65 per cent lighter than cast iron alternatives. This makes it much easier and safer to install for contractors. In addition, our Evoke fascia and soffit systems have the ability to be shaped on site using standard carpentry tools, specialist contractors are not necessary, leading to further significant cost savings.
Aluminium is one of the most sustainable building materials available because of its ability to be infinitely recycled without losing its quality. Indeed, it is estimated that 75 per cent of all aluminium ever produced is still in use today. Driven by both legislation and moral obligation, environmental impact and sustainability is becoming increasingly important, so an aluminium system that can be fully recycled at the end of its extended life cycle is a real bonus.
Comfortable living
Speaking about the project, Elfed Roberts, head of projects at the Pobl Group, said:
“As a responsible social housing provider managing over 16,000 properties, we take pride in offering a quality service and our approach to this development was no different.
“Our aim was to build attractive, robust family homes that would offer their residents a comfortable living environment and I’m confident we have achieved this.”
Aluminium systems are perfectly suited to the social housing sector as they combine the durability of aluminium, reducing future maintenance costs, with the ease of installation of plastic, reducing site costs such as scaffold hire and additional labour. Importantly, they also deliver aesthetically and will maintain their looks for many years to come.
Brian Bell is technical services manager at Marley Alutec
Video: Following the completion of the project for Gwalia housing association, Marley Alutec attended site to interview the different people involved about the decision to use an aluminium system.
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