Round Pipe Ornamental Earband (B)

Casting of iron is an imperfect processs. It is possible with some cast iron radiators that you will get minor imperfections in the surface finish. When radiators are painted this will reduce and over the years every additional coat of paint applied will provide a smoother more equal finish.

We manufacture a wide variety of brackets for many different cast iron gutter and pipe profiles. More common types are the rise and fall, top fix and side fix rafter and the holderbat or pipe clip.

We can also offer traditional drive brackets, repair brackets and fascia brackets in both steel and cast iron.

It is always advisable to replace like with like because quite often the brackets form and important part of the buildings architecture. Occasionally buildings have special decorative brackets and our UK manufacturing allows us to produce small quantities of bespoke brackets when required.

BTU stand’s for British Thermal Units. This was the old (Imperial) measurement for heat in connection with plumbing. Although BTU’s is a term still commonly used within the heating and plumbing, the industry is now going over to KW’s Kilowatts.

Our brackets are more commonly used on cast iron rainwater systems. Unlike plastic, cast iron is heavy and the weight keeps the gutter in position. As such our brackets do not normally have retaining clips which could lead to plastic or lightweight gutters blowing out of the bracket. The profile of your gutter should match that of our bracket but without the weight to keep it in place you may well encounter problems in bad weather.

The drainage and guttering market has matured considerably over the past 20 years and there are now many more product choices for consumers to consider.

Despite the influx of new materials it appears that the benchmark for rainwater systems is still cast iron. Cast iron rainwater goods were introduced in the late 18th Century as an alternative to lead. As well as being easier to produce, the material enabled eaves gutters to be installed more simply, since lead could only be used in this location as a lining for timber gutters.

Many modern materials focus on replicating the appearance of cast iron but those materials can vary rarely offer any of the benefits. Cast iron gutters and pipes offer great strength and durability, a proven history of long life, low noise operation and fire resistance. Most old buildings have cast iron rainwater systems that should be maintained and preserved however; these inherent benefits make cast iron an ideal choice for both traditional and modern installations.

It is not uncommon to see modern alternative products marketed with terms like low maintenance or easy to install and cost effective. It has even been said that ‘plastic guttering systems provide a way of achieving a traditional look with modern convenience’. These terms tend to refer to possible cost savings rather than any real product benefits. It is also difficult to quantify the benefits of modern convenience over traditional build quality.

It is worth remembering that all rainwater goods will require some element of maintaining to ensure they are unblocked by debris and remain functional. No rainwater system cleans itself. Today most suppliers of cast iron rainwater systems offer products in both primer or pre-painted with a 10 year protective coating. When describing modern materials, the term ‘cost effective’ is used rather than simply saying cheap. There is no doubt that the initial cost of many modern materials is less than cast iron but you might be surprised to know that over its lifespan, cast iron will cost around a third of plastic.

It is easy to forget about your rainwater system but it does need to be maintained and inspected at least twice a year regardless of the product material. It does not matter whether the property is hundreds of years old or brand new, the message is the same; ‘maintaining your rainwater system contributes to the external appearance of the building as well as keeping it free from damp and structural damage.

It is possible for us to supply towel warmers with an electric heating element in them. The Electrad system is a unique system available to us, that enables independent heating of towel rails and radiators via the properties electrical system.

The standards for our cast iron gutters and pipes have remained remarkably constant for many years. The physical properties of cast iron are sustained throughout its lifetime thus maintaining its effectiveness. Coupled with is durability and proper maintenance, we would expect our traditional cast iron rainwater products to last for over 50 years under normal conditions.

We do offer a range of Ogee patterned gutters in both straight and radius profiles. The straight profiles are much more common and as such cost less.

Yes. All our mild steel brackets are supplied in either silver or black zinc plate. This coating protects the metal however, both will need painting prior to installation.

We have chosen to use zinc plating for two reasons; firstly that it is a more environmentally friendly than galvanising and secondly that it does not block up the threaded part of the rise and fall cups in the way that galvanising does.

With National Maintenance week fast approaching (18th – 25th November 2011), Tuscan Foundry Products Ltd have decided to help period property owners look after rainwater systems by offering big discounts on selected cast iron gutters, pipes and fittings.

Friday 25th November is designated as National Gutters Day and on this particular day, homeowners are encouraged to check their systems for evidence of damage. Repairing sections of damaged cast iron gutter and pipe can help avoid potentially thousands of pounds of damage to brickwork.

Tuscan is offering these savings across a range of profiles and includes both primer and painted stock. The offers will only be available whilst stocks last so visit our website to view our discounted cast iron rainwater goods today.

For more information concerning National Maintenance Week visit the Society for the Protect of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) at www.maintainyourbuilding.org.uk