If you’re choosing new guttering, chances are you’ve already narrowed it down to steel or aluminium. Plastic feels like a compromise.
Cast iron looks great but brings weight, cost, and sometimes installation headaches. Steel and aluminium sit in that more sensible middle ground — durable, good-looking, and built to last.
But which one’s actually better?
Annoyingly, the honest answer is: it depends. On budget, building style, and what you expect the system to do over the next 20–30 years. Let’s break it down properly, without pretending there’s one perfect option for everyone.
Steel guttering: practical, lightweight, and surprisingly flexible
Steel guttering has come a long way. The system most people are talking about now is Zambelli, and there’s a reason it’s become popular so quickly.
First off, cost. Steel guttering is generally cheaper than aluminium, which immediately puts it on the radar for larger projects, renovations, or anyone trying to keep a build under control without defaulting to plastic.
Despite that lower price, it’s very lightweight. Installers notice this straight away. Less strain, quicker fitting, fewer brackets fighting gravity.
For straightforward installs — extensions, garages, residential homes — that matters more than people realise.
Then there’s colour. Zambelli steel guttering is available in a wide range of factory-finished colours, from understated greys through to bolder architectural shades. You’re not stuck with black, white, or “close enough”. If matching windows, doors, or cladding matters, steel gives you options without going fully bespoke.
Steel also feels reassuringly solid once installed. It doesn’t flex much, it holds its shape, and it copes well with typical UK weather. For most homes, it does exactly what you want guttering to do — quietly move water away and stay out of trouble.
The Black Zambelli Steel Guttering on a UK Property
Where steel has its limits
Steel isn’t perfect. It relies heavily on its coating. Once that factory finish is compromised — poor cutting, damage, lack of touch-ups — corrosion can creep in. It’s not instant, but it’s something to be aware of long-term.
Aesthetically, steel also leans more modern. It looks clean and smart, but it doesn’t try to replicate traditional cast profiles. If you’re working on a period property or something with architectural detail, steel can sometimes look a little too crisp.
Aluminium guttering: more choice, more longevity
Aluminium guttering tends to attract people who want either maximum lifespan or very specific aesthetics. And it earns that reputation.
One of aluminium’s biggest advantages is corrosion resistance. It simply doesn’t rust. That alone makes it appealing in coastal areas, exposed locations, or anywhere you don’t want to be thinking about guttering again in 15 years’ time.
Aluminium also comes in two very different flavours:
Cast aluminium guttering
This is the heritage end of the spectrum.
Cast aluminium replicates the look of traditional cast iron — moulded ogee, Victorian profiles, beaded round details — but without the weight or the constant maintenance. It’s often used on period properties, listed buildings, or projects where appearance genuinely matters.
Above shows the cast aluminium Victorian ogee gutter system. The brand is Alumasc (we supply on a next day delivery basis).
Contemporary aluminium guttering
On the other end, contemporary aluminium systems use clean lines, internal unions, and concealed joints. They’re designed to disappear visually, which makes them popular on modern homes and commercial buildings.
Crisp, minimal, very intentional.
In both cases, aluminium offers excellent lifespan — often 40–60 years depending on environment — with minimal maintenance beyond basic cleaning.
The SnapIt Modern Aluminium Gutter
Aluminium guttering cost: the trade-off
There’s no avoiding it. Aluminium guttering costs more than steel upfront. Cast aluminium especially sits at the premium end.
But it’s worth looking at that cost in context. Aluminium systems:
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Last longer
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Need less maintenance
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Don’t rely as heavily on coatings to prevent corrosion
For long-term projects, high-value properties, or “fit it once and forget it” thinking, aluminium often justifies its price.
Installation: which is easier?
Both systems are installer-friendly, but in slightly different ways.
Steel is light, simple, and fast. Great for standard jobs where speed matters.
Aluminium — particularly contemporary systems — often uses clever jointing methods (internal unions, bolt-less designs, injectable silicone). It can take a bit more care, but the finished result is cleaner and more refined.
Cast aluminium sits somewhere in between. Lighter than cast iron, heavier than steel, but far easier to handle than traditional heritage systems.
Availability and lead times (this matters more than people admit)
Here’s a practical point that often decides things: availability.
Both steel and aluminium systems are available from Trade Warehouse on a next working day delivery basis in popular colours and sizes. That’s huge. No waiting weeks. No holding up other trades. If you’re on a schedule, that can outweigh almost every other consideration.
Special colours and bespoke finishes are available too, but having standard options ready to go is often what keeps a project moving.
So… which is better?
Steel guttering is usually the better choice if:
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Budget matters
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You want lightweight, straightforward installation
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A wide range of standard colours is important
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The building style is modern or neutral
Aluminium guttering is usually the better choice if:
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Longevity is the priority
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You want either a heritage look or a high-end contemporary finish
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You’re working in exposed or coastal environments
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You don’t want to think about replacement for decades
Neither is a bad choice. They’re just good at different things.
If you want value, speed, and flexibility, steel makes a lot of sense. If you want refinement, lifespan, and architectural detail, aluminium earns its keep.
The good news? You don’t really lose with either — especially when both are readily available, proven systems, and supported properly. And that’s not something guttering could always claim.
Zambelli Steel Guttering