After plastic gutters appeared on the domestic market, they immediately began to gain popularity. And the point here is not only the excellent operational and aesthetic characteristics, but also the low weight of the structure. Plastic is a lightweight material, much lighter than metal, and therefore does not create additional loads on the roof and walls of the building. When installing a PVC drainage system, there is no need to additionally reinforce the attachment points of gutters and drain pipes, as is usually done when installing a metal drain.
The answer to the question of how much plastic gutters weigh cannot be unambiguous, since it depends on how many elements are needed to construct the structure. When calculating, the dimensions of the building, features of its configuration and roof area are taken into account. Let’s look at how much plastic gutters weigh using a specific example.
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We will calculate the number and weight of drain pipes and accompanying elements
Let’s assume that the total area of all parts of the roof is 160 square meters. m. Considering that one drain pipe is enough to serve 100 square meters. m of roofing, we will need two pipes that will be located at the corners of the building. The number of funnels is determined by the number of pipes, that is, in this case, two. As for the length of the drain pipes, it depends on the height of the building, or more precisely, on how many meters there are between the cornice and the blind area. 0.3 meters is subtracted from this value – the height of the drain, which will be attached to the bottom of the pipe.
Let’s say there are 8 meters between the cornice and the blind area. We calculate: 8 m – 0.3 m = 7.7 m. If we assume that the length of one pipe is 4 meters, it turns out that in total it will be required: 7.7 m divided by 4 m, that is 2 pipes to one corner of the building. Since it is necessary to install pipes from two corners, a total of 4 pipes will be needed to install a drain. Of course, it is not always possible to do without cutting off excess length, but nothing can be done about it – manufacturers produce standard pipes 3 and 4 meters long. In our case, it is more economical to use 4-meter ones.
The number of couplings between the pipes is 2 pieces (one on each side), the number of drains is similar. The number of clamps will be four on each side (to connect two pipes to each other, an elbow to a pipe and a pipe. Therefore, 8 clamps will be needed for both sides.
One 4-meter plastic pipe with a diameter of 15 cm weighs 2.76 kg, a funnel – 0.297 kg, a clamp – 0.047 kg, a coupling – 0.120 kg, a drain – 0.166 kg. Let’s make simple calculations: multiply 4 pipes by 2.76 kg, 2 funnels by 0.297 kg, 2 couplings by 0.120 kg, 2 drains by 0.166 kg, 8 clamps by 0.047 kg. Total we get: 11.04 kg + 0.594 kg + 0.240 kg + 0.332 kg + 0.376 kg = 12.582 kg.
Let’s calculate the number of gutters and accompanying elements
Gutters, like drain pipes, are available in lengths of 3 and 4 meters. To determine the number of gutters, we need to calculate the perimeter of the roof. Let’s say the long side of the slope is 10.3 m, the short side is 4.5 m. In this case, it makes more sense to use 3-meter gutters. So, for one long side you will need 4 three-meter gutters, leaving an unused segment of 1.7 m in size.
Similarly for the other long slope. These segments are just useful for short slopes. You can buy one more three-meter gutter for each short side and connect them with the remaining sections – it will be just a little more than necessary: 3 m + 1.7 m = 4.7 m. In total, we will need 10 three-meter gutters. In addition to the gutters, you will need 6 couplings and 4 plugs. The number of corners of the gutter is equal to the number of corners of the roof – that is, in this case you will need four corners.
Now let’s calculate the weight. One three-meter chute weighs 2.070 kg. Multiply by the quantity 10, we get 20.7 kg. The weight of one coupling is 0.236 kg. Thus 6 couplings will weigh 1.416 kg. Four plugs of 0.092 kg = 0.368 kg, four corners of the gutter of 0.354 kg = 1.416 kg. Total: 20.7 + 1.416 + 0.368 + 1.416 = 23.9 kg.
Let’s calculate the number of brackets
It is recommended to install them every half meter of the gutter. Therefore, for 10 three-meter gutters you will need 60 brackets. Each of them weighs 0.088 kg. Multiply by 60 and get a total weight of 5.28 kg.
Now you can calculate how much the plastic drain weighs in our particular case: 12.582 kg + 23.9 kg + 5.28 kg = 41.7 kg. Of course, the calculations made are approximate, since each individual project will require an individual amount of certain elements. But nevertheless, it becomes obvious that in comparison with a metal drain, a plastic drain weighs much less.
This allows, as already mentioned at the beginning of the article, to do without additional reinforcement of the fastening points of the structure, and also significantly facilitates installation. You can even install the system yourself if you carefully follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer. However, if you are not confident in your own strengths and skills, it is better to entrust the installation to professionals.
