A sensitive design solution by architects Isherwood and Ellis saw the redundant Grade B1 listed primary school converted into 30 self-contained apartments by building contractors Connolly and Fee Ltd for the social housing provider Connswater Homes. 

As a Grade B1 listed building, the facade could not be significantly altered, leading Isherwood and Ellis to specify Alumasc’s Heritage Cast Aluminium rainwater system with a black textured finish to replicate the school’s original cast iron system. The Heritage Cast Aluminium range is ideal for traditionally designed buildings and can be used for the direct replacement of cast iron, whilst offering all the benefits of modern aluminium casting techniques and factory finish.

The system, which was supplied by Alumasc approved supplier PFC Rainwater Systems of Newtownabbey in County Antrim, has minimal maintenance requirements and is lightweight, durable and easy to handle and fix. The moulded profile specified for Mersey Street was one of five profiles that are available in the range, alongside a choice of imperial sizes and RAL colours to suit all projects.

The Social Development Minister, Nelson McCausland opened the new £3 million development in November and added: “This really is an impressive development and good news for the people of East Belfast. Not only does this innovative project provide much needed new housing in an area of high housing need, but it rescues a much loved historic building of local importance.”

For more information about Alumasc’s Heritage Cast Aluminium rainwater systems, click here

For details of Cast Aluminium ex-stock and lead times, click here

The unique four-part calculator offers the following:

- Foul Drainage Calculator

- Internal Rainwater Drainage Calculator

- Flat Roof Calculator

- Rainwater Gutter Calculator

Drainage Design Calculator Software

The new software can be downloaded here free of charge, it will then be saved on the users PC with an easy access direct from the Desktop Icon. Users will also benefit from quick NBS Specification generation which links directly from the from the calculator results.

Alumasc has provided a complete rainwater and drainage solution for the award-winning Marriotts Walk Shopping Centre in Oxfordshire.

Located in the town centre of Witney, Marriotts Walk incorporates flagship stores, a cinema, restaurants and 143 new homes. The scheme was designed and built by Simons Group and has recently won the prestigious ‘Sustainable Communities’ Award from the Royal Town Planning Institute South East Region.

Alumasc worked closely with Simons on the design of the rainwater system which needed to suit the character of the historic town centre whilst offering the performance demanded by a contemporary build project.

Carried out by Alumasc’s approved installer Northants Rainwater Systems Ltd, the resulting installation was a combination of Heritage Cast Aluminium, to complement existing architecture in the traditional areas, with Aqualine and Flushjoint for the newly built, more modern areas.

The package at Marriotts Walk also included Harmer Drainage Outlets and the Harmer SML soil and waste system which were supplied in the public facilities across the scheme.

For more information on Alumasc’s range of rainwater products click here.

For more information on Alumasc drainage products click here.

But never a company to rest on its laurels, Alumasc is fully aware of industry changes that affect everyday working methods and continually strives to offer the best products and the best service on the market today.

In a move designed solely for the benefit of Contractors and Merchants in the building industry, an extensive range of Alumasc’s most popular Aluminium and Cast Iron rainwater systems has been made available ex-stock with an unrivalled lead time of 3 days.

With huge stock levels of over £2million being available at any one time, never before has Alumasc’s service been so perfectly tailored to the needs of modern building projects. Furthermore, in an industry first, for projects carrying tight deadlines Alumasc offers an Express Delivery – Next Day Service.

An extensive range of Alumasc’s Apex Heritage painted and primed Cast Iron Rainwater is also available ex-stock, offering the most well-used profiles, namely Half Round gutters in 4”, 4½” and 5” diameters and rainwater pipes in 2½” and 3” diameters, in a high quality 2-pack epoxy primer and top coat finish. Now also available in a range of 8 standard colour options.

Designing your system, identifying the right product and getting it delivered to site, has never been easier – or faster – thanks to Alumasc.

Download the new Alumasc Rainwater Lead Times sheet

For projects carrying tight deadlines, Alumasc now offers an Express Delivery – Next Day Service for our ex-stock range, ensuring our products arrive on site the next day.

As one of the UK’s market leading suppliers of Cast Iron Rainwater Systems, Alumasc is constantly aware of industry changes that affect the everyday working methods of its colleagues in the building industry.

By removing the need for post-installation paintwork, Alumasc painted cast Iron offers up to a 60% saving on installation time and 30% saving in materials.  

The highly durable 4-coat factory-finish comprises 2 coats of primer, 1 undercoat and a topcoat, which can last up to 7 years before re-painting is required. Now also available in a range of standard colour options.

To search for local stockists, click here

New Rainwater Lead Times

For more details on Alumasc’s Cast Iron Rainwater Systems, click here

Overlooking Hyde Park, The Lancasters was originally a parade of 15 magnificent stucco-fronted Grade II listed houses dating from the mid nineteenth century. More recently used as a hotel, it has now been restored and developed into 77 prestige homes. A leading team of developers, architects and interior designers has created a unique fusion of traditional architecture with brand new design and construction.

Alumasc’s Heritage Cast Iron system was specified by the architects Nilsson, for its combination of traditional manufacture and modern quality control standards. The result is a highly robust rainwater solution that provides a visually sympathetic finish to fully complement the stunning Victorian architecture.

The Heritage Cast Iron was installed by Premier Services Installations (PSI) Ltd and comprised traditional 4” downpipes and ogee gutters finished in a bespoke white, created especially for The Lancasters by Alumasc who created a dedicated paint line to ensure the order was completed on time.

A range of Alumasc’s most popular profiles are now available as pre-painted ex-stock with an express delivery option which will ensure delivery to site in 24 hours.

For more information on Alumasc’s Cast Iron Rainwater Systems, click here

Alumasc's Heritage Cast Aluminium Rainwater at Marylebone Station in London.

Many of you are already familiar with the quality and heritage of Alumasc’s Aluminium and Cast Iron Rainwater Products, but did you know that our craftsmanship can also be found in places you might not expect?

Some of the world’s most renowned engineering and manufacturing companies rely on the quality and performance of Alumasc’s die-cast aluminium components, supplied by Alumasc Precision Limited. With an impressive client portfolio, including Aston Martin, Caterpillar, Jaguar, JCB and Siemans, Alumasc Precision has been developing zinc and aluminium cast components since 1945.

Alumasc Precision - suppliers of die-cast components for Aston Martin.

Alumasc’s unrivalled heritage is an ultimate testament to the reliability and longevity of its metal products. From gutters and downpipes to oil coolers, car consoles and Hi-Fi speaker parts, Alumasc offers unsurpassed technical support and high-performance products in every area of its business.

For more information Alumasc’s Cast Aluminium and Cast Iron Rainwater Products, click here

For more information on Alumasc Precision, click here

Oxted School was opened in 1929 as Surrey’s first mixed grammar school. Today it is a secondary school, serving over 2,000 pupils aged 11–18. The original building boasts imposing architectural features but over the years the rainwater system had undergone a number of different repairs using a mix of steel and plastic guttering.

In 2011, Surrey County Council took steps to replace the entire rainwater system with a high performance modern system that would complement Oxted’s character.

Installed by the Breyer Group of Essex, Alumasc Heritage Aluminium provided a low maintenance solution comprising of beaded half round gutters and 76mm round downpipes in black, to create a period look in keeping with the age and style of the building.

Alan Gower, Contracts Manager for the Breyer Group, commented: “Alumasc Heritage Aluminium is quick and straightforward to install, providing a lightweight and very effective system which has worked extremely well for this heritage project.”

Alumasc Heritage Aluminium is an excellent solution for sensitive refurbishment, offering a comprehensive range of BBA Approved traditional gutter profiles, round, square and rectangular pipes and all associated fittings and accessories. Designed to provide all the essential architectural features appropriate to traditional buildings, Heritage is also fully in tune with modern, fast track building contracts. Aluminium is lightweight, durable, non-corrodible and 100% recyclable requiring minimal maintenance and providing a life expectancy of 40 years in rural/suburban areas and up to 25 years in industrial/marine areas. The system is available in plain mill finish or in the Raincote range of BBA Approved powder coatings in a wide range of colours.

For more information on Alumasc’s Aluminium Rainwater Systems, click here

A combination of standard and bespoke systems have been installed to the new apartment buildings at the massive Olympic development, including around 5000m of Alumasc’s Guardian and Flushjoint standard systems, copings, guttering and non-standard Stainless Steel downpipes which were designed by Alumasc’s Technical Team.

The rainwater systems have been colour co-ordinated in a range of BBA Approved powder coatings, to complement the design of each individual apartment block.

For more information on Alumasc’s Aluminium Rainwater Systems, click here.

For more information Harmer Roof Drainage systems, click here.

The Department of Communities and Local Government is today launching its Action Plan for a Working Group to stimulate the growth of the self build housing sector – a move which has the wholehearted support of Alumasc, who recently attended a pre-launch event in london with Housing Minister Grant Shapps MP.

Self builders are Britain’s largest housebuilder and account for about one-fifth of Britain’s new homes each year, but for far too long the aspirations of ordinary people to build their own homes have been hindered by barriers and red tape. With the help of building industry leaders such as Alumasc, Shapps is keen to stimulate the UK self build market by reducing red-tape during the planning process and encouraging lenders to provide mortgages to self builders.

Alumasc has long been a supplier to the UK’s self builders, with its Cast Aluminium and Cast Iron Rainwater systems adorning many self build projects across the country. Paul Hetherington, MD for Alumasc’s Rainwater brand comments: “Alumasc welcomes the new Action Plan with open arms. Many self builders are true pioneers, often embracing new technologies and buildling innovations long before they become mainstream.

“We are delighted to be involved with such positive steps and look forward to seeing the impact these measures have on our future homes and communities”.

For more information on Alumasc’s Rainwater Systems, click here

For more information on the DCLG’s Action Plan, click here