When architects specify galvanised steel rainwater systems, they’re after something specific: durability that shows, a finish with character, and materials that complement contemporary design. At Duncombe Barracks and Burnholme in York, we delivered exactly that – and the results have just won a Housing Design Award 2025.
A Year-Long Commitment to Social Housing Excellence
Duncombe Barracks and Burnholme represents significant investment in York’s social housing stock. Across 14 blocks for York City Council, we installed several hundred metres of Lindab galvanised steel guttering and downpipes, complemented by custom-fabricated aluminium bargeboard and fascia covers.
The project ran over a 12-month period, with work phased around York City Council’s construction programme. Social housing demands a different approach – coordinating with multiple stakeholders, delivering to exacting construction timelines, and meeting standards that need to last decades with minimal maintenance.
Galvanised Steel: The Architect’s Choice
The specification came from the architects, and for good reason. Galvanised steel offers a distinctive aesthetic that aluminium can’t quite replicate – a finish that’s industrial yet refined, contemporary but honest about its materiality.
For this project, Lindab galvanised steel provided:
Long-term durability – Hot-dipped galvanisation creates a zinc coating that protects the steel substrate, essential for social housing where maintenance budgets are tight and longevity is paramount.
Visual character – Unlike polyester-coated aluminium, galvanised steel has a living finish that weathers distinctively. As our team noted, “they do sort of pop” – the systems create visual interest on the facades without being overstated.
Architectural coherence – The material choice aligned with the overall design intent, complementing the contemporary social housing aesthetic while providing the robust performance required.
Lindab Quality Meets Rainmen Installation Expertise
Lindab is a leading European manufacturer of ventilation and rainwater systems, known for precision engineering and consistent quality. Their galvanised steel products offer:
- Hot-dipped galvanisation to international standards
- Pre-formed components for reliable installation
- Proven performance in UK weather conditions
- Comprehensive system components from gutters to outlets
But specification is only half the story – installation quality determines long-term performance. Across 14 blocks, we ensured:
- Precise fall and alignment on every run
- Secure fixing to varied substrate conditions
- Weathertight connections throughout
- Integration with our custom aluminium fabrications
Bespoke Aluminium Details: The Rainmen Difference
While Lindab provided the rainwater systems, we designed custom aluminium bargeboard and fascia covers to complete the roofline package. This combination approach – specifying the right manufactured systems alongside bespoke design work – is where Rainmen’s expertise really shows.
Our aluminium fabrications provided:
- Precise fit to building dimensions
- Clean architectural lines
- Colour coordination with the overall scheme
- Long-term, low-maintenance performance
Working across multiple blocks over 12 months, we maintained consistent quality and finish throughout, coordinating with York City Council’s programme and other trades to deliver a cohesive result.
Award-Winning Results
The proof is in the recognition: Duncombe Barracks and Burnholme won a Housing Design Award 2025, with judges assessing design quality, community impact, sustainability and standard of finish across the scheme.
Our rainwater systems and roofline details contribute to that award-winning finish. The galvanised steel “pops” against the building facades, creating visual rhythm and architectural interest. More importantly, they’ll continue performing reliably for York City Council’s tenants for decades to come.
The Housing Design Awards celebrate excellence in UK housing delivery, recognising projects that demonstrate outstanding design quality and successful collaboration. Being part of an award-winning scheme reinforces what we know: quality rainwater systems aren’t an afterthought – they’re integral to successful architecture.
Material Versatility
While we’re known as aluminium rainwater specialists, this York project demonstrates our material versatility. We work with what the building needs:
- Seamless aluminium gutters for residential and commercial projects
- Cast and extruded aluminium systems for heritage and high-specification work
- Galvanised steel when architects specify that particular aesthetic and performance
- uPVC systems for cost-effective solutions at volume
- Bespoke fabrications in aluminium and other materials to complement any system
The key is understanding why a particular material is specified, respecting the architect’s design intent, and installing to standards that do justice to the specification.
Social Housing: Where Quality Really Counts
Social housing projects like Duncombe Barracks and Burnholme remind us why getting the details right matters. These aren’t investment properties that will be flipped in five years – they’re homes where people will live long-term, maintained by housing associations and councils with constrained budgets.
Quality rainwater systems in social housing mean:
- Tenants’ homes stay dry and weather-tight
- Maintenance costs stay manageable over decades
- Buildings maintain their appearance and dignity
- Public investment delivers lasting value
Working with York City Council over 12 months and maintaining consistent quality across 14 blocks requires experience, planning and commitment. It’s exactly the kind of work Rainmen has been delivering from day one.
Working with Architects, Councils and Main Contractors
Projects like this succeed through collaboration. Architects specified materials that achieved their design vision. York City Council managed a complex programme across multiple blocks. Main contractors coordinated trades and timelines. And Rainmen delivered rainwater systems and roofline details that met everyone’s requirements – on time, on spec, and to award-winning standards.
If you’re an architect specifying rainwater systems, a facilities manager planning maintenance upgrades, or a main contractor looking for reliable specialist partners, we’d welcome the conversation. We understand architectural intent, we coordinate effectively with project teams, and we install to standards that last.
Let’s Talk About Your Next Project
Whether you’re working on social housing, commercial developments, heritage buildings, or anything in between – if you need rainwater systems that combine the right materials with expert installation, get in touch.
Call us on 01457 871676 or visit rainmen.co.uk to discuss your project requirements.
View the full Duncombe Barracks and Burnholme project at the Housing Design Awards 2025
