Do you feel like your current gutter system is failing or outdated and you need to replace it with a new efficient gutter system? We highly recommend installing seamless gutters this time around.
What are you going to do with the old gutters you will replace? Are you going to throw them away? We strongly advise against the later as you can use them for other purposes not related to their primary function of being a rain management system.
Throwing them way will only lead to land pollution which is very bad for our environment.
There are lot of things you can do with them but let me colour a picture that can vividly explain in a manner that you can understand where I`m coming from.
Do you remember the peanut butter containers people use to store sugar or salt after their contents have been finished? What about the empty Mazowe orange crush 2litre containers used for storing drinking water?
Here is a clearer example, car tyres. After their life on the wheels of a car, you will find them on scorch-carts, after scorch-carts they will be used to make sandals and from sandals to threads used to sew and fix shoe soles.
This is the same with old gutters you want to replace. They can be used in various applications to serve other purposes which is more practical and better than throwing them away. Here are some ways you can make use of them in a Zimbabwean setting:
The first thing to do if you do not want them anymore even to use for other purposes is to sell to people who may need them thereby gaining an extra something or simply give them away if you want to.
For those who are into flowers, you can use the gutters as portable flowerbeds or pots (hanging planters). All you need to do is cut them into the sizes you want, paint them to add some character, fill up with some soil plus manure and your flowerbed will be ready.
Gutters made from materials such as aluminium, zinc, cast iron, galvanised and painted steel, lead or copper can be turned into fine, artistic sculptures if they fall into the hands of a talented artist. The sculptures can be used to decorate homes, offices or gardens.
Gutters can also be turned into shelves which can be used for various applications in any home or office setting only after giving them a nice coat of paint which suits the application you want. They can be used as bookshelves, space saving shoe racks and kitchen shelving for those whole are extra creative.
For those into agriculture particularly poultry farming, you can also use gutters as feeding and water troughs. This can be an alternative which would go a long way into saving you loads of money in the long run.
If you are creative enough you will find out that there a lot of other things you can do with gutters other than throwing them away.