Plastic vs aluminium gutters: which is best for your home?
Most Hampton, Teddington and Twickenham homes still run standard uPVC (plastic) half-round or square-line gutters, but seamless aluminium is a common upgrade on period and larger detached properties. The right choice depends on roof size, run length, aesthetics and how long you plan to stay.
How the two systems differ
uPVC comes in fixed 4m lengths joined with clip-in seals; aluminium is rolled on-site into one continuous run per elevation, so there are only joins at corners and outlets. That single difference — seams vs seamless — drives most of the cost, lifespan and leak-risk gap between them.
Lifespan and durability
uPVC lasts 15–25 years before the plastic goes brittle from UV and the rubber seals harden and drip. Aluminium comfortably reaches 40+ years, doesn't rust, doesn't sag in summer heat, and holds paint well. On a Victorian terrace where scaffold is expensive, that extra 20 years matters.
Cost per metre (fitted, 2026 Hampton area)
uPVC half-round or square-line: typically £22–£35 per metre fitted including brackets, outlets and downpipes. Seamless aluminium: typically £55–£85 per metre fitted. On a semi-detached with ~30m of gutter, that's roughly £700–£1,050 in uPVC vs £1,650–£2,550 in aluminium.
Maintenance and leaks
uPVC seals are the weak point — most 'my gutter is leaking' calls we take are failed joints, not cracked plastic. Aluminium's seamless runs remove that failure mode entirely; the only joints are at internal corners and outlets, sealed with a butyl mastic that outlasts uPVC's rubber gaskets.
When we recommend which
uPVC: standard semis and terraces where budget matters and future re-do is straightforward. Aluminium: long unbroken runs, awkward-access properties, listed or conservation-area homes needing an ogee profile, and anyone planning to stay 15+ years. Cast-iron replacement in conservation areas is a separate conversation.
Colour and profile options
uPVC: white, black, brown, anthracite grey — half-round, square-line and ogee. Aluminium: full RAL colour range with a baked powder-coat finish, plus traditional ogee and moulded profiles that read as cast iron from the ground. Anthracite grey is the most-requested finish in the TW postcodes right now.
FAQs
On homes you plan to keep 15+ years, or where scaffolding access is expensive, yes — the 40+ year lifespan and seamless runs typically work out cheaper than replacing uPVC twice. For short-stay or budget-driven jobs, uPVC is still the sensible choice.
Yes — seamless aluminium suits almost any UK house style. We roll the runs on-site so there are no length limits, and it's available in traditional ogee profiles that match period properties.
No. The factory powder-coat finish is baked on and typically holds colour for 25+ years without repainting. uPVC also doesn't need painting but tends to chalk and fade after 10–15 years.
Yes — removal, disposal and full clean-up are included in every quote, whether we're fitting uPVC or aluminium.
Related reading
More on roof repairs and the jobs that usually come with it.
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- Storm damage: what insurance covers and what it does notRepairs & problems
- uPVC vs timber fascias and soffitsComparisons
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