Aluminium and Zinc Guttering in Melton Mowbray — Rainwater Systems Built to Outlast the House

Know When Your Guttering Has Stopped Doing Its Job

Most guttering fails slowly, then all at once. uPVC gutters typically last 15 to 25 years before joints crack and brackets give way, and by the time water is visibly running down an outside wall, the fascia behind it is often already damp.

Watch for these signs:

• Water streaking down brickwork or render after rain
• Sagging sections that pool water instead of running it away
• Cracked or discoloured plastic, especially on the sun-facing side
• Joints that weep or drip even in light rain
• Peeling paint or rot on the fascia board behind the gutter
• A gutter run more than 20 years old that’s been patched more than once

A gutter that’s failing in one spot usually needs a repair, not a full replacement. If that’s where you are, our gutter repairs service deals with a single leaking joint or a cracked section without disturbing the rest of the run. Where the whole system is past its working life, a switch to aluminium or zinc solves the problem for good rather than buying another few seasons.

Zinc works differently. Fresh zinc guttering starts bright and grey, then develops a dull, self-protecting patina over six months to two years that shields the metal underneath for the rest of its life. It’s supplied as natural zinc, which weathers naturally, or pre-weathered “quartz” zinc, which looks settled from day one. Zinc suits period properties and the newer executive homes going up around Old Dalby, where a premium, understated metal finish sits better than a painted plastic profile. For more on how zinc and other traditional metals behave over decades on a UK roofline, the Federation of Traditional Metal Roofing Contractors’ guide to zinc is a useful independent reference.

On a listed building or a genuinely historic property, cast iron sometimes remains the right call for planning reasons rather than aluminium or zinc. Daniel Oakland, our project manager, talks through all three options on site so you’re choosing based on your property, not a sales script.

What Happens Before Your New Guttering Goes Up

A good aluminium or zinc installation starts well before anyone climbs a ladder. We measure the full roofline, check the fall and pitch needed to carry water to the downpipes, and inspect the fascia boards the new gutter will sit on.

Rotten or warped fascias won’t hold new brackets properly, so we flag this at survey stage rather than discovering it mid-job. If your fascias need attention alongside the guttering, our fascias and soffits service is usually fitted in the same visit, so you’re not paying for scaffold twice. Colour matching happens at this stage too, whether that’s an exact RAL shade against your existing windows or a natural zinc left to weather on its own.

Melton Commercial Park’s newer light-industrial units are a good example of why this survey step matters. Long, uninterrupted rooflines need a fall calculated properly across the whole run, not eyeballed section by section, or water pools at the low end within a year.

A standard semi-detached home usually takes a single day for aluminium, since seamless runs go up quickly once the fascia is sound. Zinc takes a little longer, typically one to two days, because folding and soldering box-profile corners is slower, more skilled work. Larger or more complex rooflines, like those on period farmhouses out toward Stathern or Harby, can run to three days. We protect borders, driveways and anything stored below the working area throughout, and you don’t usually need to be out of the house.

What Aluminium and Zinc Guttering Really Costs in Melton Mowbray

Cost comes down to the metal, the profile, and how much of your roofline needs replacing. As a general guide, seamless aluminium guttering typically runs £55 to £180 per metre installed, with the top of that range covering deeper, box-style profiles and bespoke colours. Zinc costs more, commonly £90 to £160 per metre installed for box-profile systems, reflecting the skilled folding and soldering work each joint needs. For comparison, standard galvanised steel guttering typically costs £15 to £25 per metre installed, though it doesn’t match either metal for lifespan.

What pushes a price up or down:

• Profile depth — deep box profiles cost more than standard half-round
• Metal gauge — thicker aluminium or heavier zinc sheet costs more but lasts longer
• Colour and finish — bespoke RAL colours on aluminium add to the powder-coating cost
• Access — a straightforward semi costs less to scaffold than a boxed-in terrace
• Fascia condition — rotten boards need replacing before new guttering goes on, typically adding £20–£40 per metre
• Run length and complexity — more corners, outlets and downpipes all add labour

These are general market ranges, not a quote for your roofline. Two homes of a similar size can price very differently once profile, access and fascia condition are factored in. A fixed price needs a survey.

Keep Your New Guttering Performing for Decades

Aluminium and zinc both need far less looking after than plastic, but a little attention keeps either system working at its best for its full lifespan.

• Clear leaves and moss from gutters each autumn, especially under overhanging trees
• Check brackets after any major storm, since a loosened fixing changes the fall
• Wash powder-coated aluminium with mild soapy water once a year to keep the finish looking sharp
• Leave zinc’s natural patina alone — it protects the metal and doesn’t need cleaning or repainting
• Book a free drone survey every few years to catch a loose joint before it becomes a leak

One detail worth knowing: aluminium and zinc aren’t always happy fixed directly against each other, since the two metals sit far apart on the galvanic scale and can corrode faster in contact when both stay wet for long periods. We keep fixings and flashings compatible with whichever metal you choose, so this never becomes a problem on your roofline.

Founder James Tate started the business after fifteen years working roofs across Melton Mowbray and the surrounding area, and he still prices most jobs himself. His founding idea was simple: find out what’s genuinely wrong, use the right materials, and stand behind the result. Between us we bring over 40 years of combined team experience, hold NVQ Level 2 and 3 qualifications in Roofing Occupations, and carry CSCS cards. Janice Whitmore, our office manager, keeps you posted from your first call through to the final flow test. Read more about the people behind the work on our About Tate & Sons Roofing page.

Areas We Serve Across Melton Mowbray and the Surrounding Villages

We fit aluminium and zinc guttering across Melton Mowbray and the villages around it. If your address isn’t listed below, call us anyway — there’s a strong chance we already cover you.

• Melton Mowbray (LE13)
• Asfordby (LE14 3)
• Old Dalby (LE14 3)
• Nether Broughton (LE14 3)
• Frisby on the Wreake (LE14 2)
• Wymondham (LE14 2)
• Long Clawson (LE14 4)
• Harby (LE14 4)
• Stathern (LE14 4)
• Waltham on the Wolds (LE14 4)
• Bottesford (NG13)

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