Solving the Finlock Concrete Guttering Problem
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It is a first principle of house maintenance that you ensure that your property is wind and water tight, i.e. weather proof, which poses an imposition for those who may have had Finlock guttering for houses built circa 1950's. Finlock Guttering (a.k.a Concrete guttering) is a type of gutter system used after the Second World War era as an alternative to the short supply of other materials, whereby the guttering would be assembled and cemented on site having been made in block form. The guttering typically has 2 main troughs, at the front to take the water away, and at the rear filled with concrete to provide stability and support to the roof wall plate. Over the years the Finlock or concrete guttering will break down and problems may develop such as sagging above windows. In addition, the movement in a house over the house history can cause the guttering to move and permit damp to enter through the joints, resulting in water leakage and filling in the cavity wall. As the guttering is made out of concrete blocks, damp that is transmitted from the outside to the inside can cause damp patches on the walls, only solved temporarily by redecorating, but having the high risk of recurrence over the next few years. Another possible solution would be to have lined concrete guttering which works successfully by lining the insides of the guttering with different types of linings being used, ranging from tar (used historically) to lead, bitumen, fibreglass, polymer coatings, aluminium, and plastic. But this is not a permanent solution either, because, damp and cold is still transmitted through the guttering into the inside through porous mortar which makes the rooms cold, and the concrete eventually sags over the windows or large openings such as patio or French doors. So with this solution, a life span of five to ten years is realistic, influenced by the rate of drying down after the leak has been resolved. It would seem that only by removing the majority of the concrete can the problems be solved, typically done by secure scaffolding at the correct height to allow the outside concrete guttering to be removed safely which may involve removal of tiles and concrete installing angle irons and then installation of lintels to support existing concrete whilst other portions are being cut and removed to ensure the inside stays intact. This technique when properly employed would allow for a suitable amount to be cut off whilst ensuring roof ventilation. Always shop around before choosing a company to have your concrete guttering removed, focusing on recommendations and guarantees on work done. It is not expected to be a cheap job, but it is better to pay for quality work than to throw money away and keep getting recurring problems. |
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Page last updated: 20/11/2011 * Disclaimer: All article content is the opinion of the author and does not represent the views of RenovationFinance.co.uk. In all instances, you are advised to seek independent advice. |
