Rainwater drainage is the least visible construction system, and the one that, when poorly sized or poorly built, causes the most damage to a building. Wall infiltrations, render delamination, facade staining and accelerated window-frame degradation usually trace back to undersized gutters, badly soldered joints or poorly placed downpipes.
ZincArt designs, fabricates and installs zinc and copper drainage systems for roofs of any size, from a single-family home to industrial roofing. We work on new builds and on the replacement of old end-of-life systems, with in-house fabrication of all parts and installation by our own team.
What a complete drainage system includes
A zinc drainage system is more than the gutter visible at the eaves. It is a coordinated set of elements:
- Gutters that collect water running off the roof.
- Concealed box gutters, on roofs with parapets or hidden drainage geometry.
- Downpipes that carry water down to ground level or the building's drainage network.
- Funnels linking gutter to downpipe, with the right dimensional transition.
- Flashings at chimneys, parapets, lanterns, ridges and mansards.
- Accessories: chimney caps, vents, leaf guards, sand traps.
When these elements are made in the same material and finish and installed in a coordinated way, the system works for decades with no significant intervention.
Zinc gutters
The gutter is the structural element of the system. We fabricate zinc gutters in several profiles:
- Half-round - the classical, efficient profile, suitable for the great majority of residential roofs.
- Rectangular or trapezoidal - a contemporary profile with a more geometric reading, suited to modern architecture.
- Moulded / decorative - ornamental profiles for the refurbishment of historic buildings, reproduced from a survey of the original parts.
The sheet used is typically 0.7 mm to 0.8 mm thick for standard gutters, going up to 1.0 mm in sections exposed to significant loads. Gutters are supplied in lengths suited to transport and to the spacing between supports; the joints between sections are made by tin-lead soldering, ensuring full watertightness over the whole service life of the system.
Fixings are corrosion-resistant steel brackets, or hidden supports integrated into the eaves, with spacing sized for the profile, regional snow load (where applicable) and exposure.
Downpipes
Downpipes are made in round or rectangular section, with diameters sized to the catchment flow. The most common diameters are between 80 mm and 120 mm for residential use; larger projects or heavier rainfall require specific sizing.
Bends, transitions, branches and inspection sockets are made part by part, with exact angles to clear mouldings, balconies, cornices and other facade elements. Wall fixings use zinc brackets, placed at regular intervals based on pipe height.
Box gutters and flashings
Box gutters are concealed gutters, hidden behind a parapet or built into the roof geometry, often in contemporary architecture or in the refurbishment of older buildings. They demand more careful execution: generous sizing to avoid overspill, flawless solderings and emergency outlets (scuppers, overflows) to limit the flooding risk if a blockage occurs.
Flashings resolve all the transitions on the roof: meetings with walls, chimneys, lanterns, mansards, skylights and parapets. Each flashing is folded from sheet to the specific geometry of its location, with a lower drip and an upper tab that secure the joint. Comprehensive flashing is one of the hallmarks of a well-built roof: invisible when done well, very visible when it fails.
Accessories
For a genuinely complete drainage system, we supply and install:
- Chimney caps in zinc or copper, made to measure for the existing or new chimney crown.
- Vents for roof ventilation and waste-water networks.
- Decorative funnels that enhance the transition between the gutter and the downpipe, often specified in refurbishment projects.
- Leaf guards and retention baskets at outlets, reducing the cleaning frequency required.
- Inspection chambers at critical points in the circuit.
In-house workshop fabrication
Workshop fabrication capacity is a concrete differentiator for ZincArt versus standardised industrial solutions. We have folding, rolling and soldering equipment that lets us make every part to the exact dimensions of the project, instead of forcing prefabricated products into contexts they were not designed for.
The process follows a consistent sequence: dimensional survey on site, technical drawing, sheet cutting and forming, joint soldering, dimensional and watertightness checks, and finally transport and installation on site. This integration lets us deal with complex geometries, refurbishments with irregular alignments and signature designs that escape the standard catalogues.
Materials
ZincArt drainage systems use European raw material from the leading zinc mills (VMZINC, elZinc, RHEINZINK) and rolled copper. Choosing between zinc and copper depends on the context:
- Zinc - the reference technical solution. Excellent durability-to-cost ratio, stable visual integration, broad compatibility with other materials.
- Copper - the noble option for heritage or signature projects, with characteristic colour evolution and a longer service life.
Discover the materials we use in detail.
Maintenance and cleaning
A well-built zinc drainage system has minimal but not zero maintenance needs. We recommend:
- Cleaning the gutters at least once a year, ideally in autumn, to remove leaves and debris.
- Visual inspection of flashings, soldered joints and downpipe brackets.
- Checking the discharge points (funnels, scuppers, outlets) to confirm they remain clear.
For buildings that are hard to access, or for clients who prefer to delegate this routine, ZincArt offers repair and maintenance with scheduled site visits.
Where we work
We install drainage systems across mainland Portugal, with a regular presence in Lisbon, Porto, Braga, Coimbra, Aveiro, Leiria and Viseu. Drainage is often part of a wider roofing intervention - see also zinc and copper roofing.
