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| As
the importance of conservational living, and the need for
greener building materials increases, Architects, developers
and self-build customers have begun approaching companies
such as Coppa Gutta Ltd for their eco-friendly copper
guttering for new build and restoration projects. |
| But
why choose copper and how is it eco-friendly? |
| One
reason is that copper is a wholly natural material present
in and essential to all plants, animals and humans. For a
nation of garden lovers this is particularly relevant as
plants grow better using rainwater, which has a balanced pH
and is free of chemicals such as chlorine. Copper does not
rust and turn the water orange and has a mild disinfecting
affect on the water. Besides its high corrosion resistance
and attractive appearance copper also acts as an algaecide
and fungicide, keeping growths such as moss and lichens to a
minimum with obvious benefits when it comes to guttering and
rainwater harvesting. |
|
Today, when choosing guttering and down pipes, architects,
contractors, and building owners are faced with having to
make decisions about material performance, life cycle cost,
finish, recyclability, environmental friendliness, and ease
of use. Copper is often the material of choice, because of
its advantageous characteristics in all of these areas
compared to other architectural materials. |
| On
the continent copper accounts for around 80% of their
guttering, while in the UK it is still viewed as a ‘new’
product, yet it has been used in plumbing for over 100
years. Copper is one of the few materials that is fully
sustainable being 100% recyclable and to date only 12% of
the current known reserves have ever been mined. No other
metal, much less plastics, can come close to matching copper
in this vital area. Copper is considered a green metal and
not just for its colour. |
| UK
manufacturers Coppa Gutta Ltd have developed an easy to
install system to cope with the growing demand for this
environmentally friendly product. Rosalie Hoare of Coppa
Gutta says: ‘The interest in copper as the best option for
guttering has increased 10 fold over the last three years
with growing awareness of environmental issues and the need
for smaller carbon footprints.’ But these are not the only
incentives for choosing copper as Rosalie explains: ‘Once
installed the gutter will last in excess of 100 years being
extremely durable and resistant to corrosion in any
atmosphere. Copper does not require any decoration, cleaning
or maintenance and is therefore particularly suited for
areas that are difficult or dangerous to access after
completion. It also has the added attraction of unique
changing visual characteristics as the copper develops an
oxide film, changing the colour from bright orange to a deep
russet brown, eventually developing a beautiful verdigris
patina after many years. |
| This
ever-changing visual effect is what attracts many people to
copper for new builds and refurbishment projects alike.
There is also the choice of accelerating the ‘aging’ process
on the gutter for buildings that require a rainwater system
that will blend in as though it has been there for many
years such as on listed properties. This can be achieved by
spraying on a solution to newly installed guttering and
within a matter of hours it will have achieved the verdigris
patina, which will then continue to ‘age’ and weather as
normal.’ |
| With
growing awareness of environmental issues, copper is more
than ever the most cost effective, adaptable roofing and
guttering material for the future. Coppa Gutta Ltd offers
three styles of gutter in two sizes, which are suitable for
the smallest of buildings up to the biggest Cathedrals, for
refurbishment or new construction |
| For
further information on Coppa Gutta Ltd see
www.roofinfo.co.uk/CoppaGutta |
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