Concrete gutters, which are also known as Finlock gutters were built on homes between 1950-the 1970s as an alternative for materials such as steel (which was scarce due to the war effort). Concrete gutters aren’t very common, but they can still be found on homes across the UK.
Unfortunately, concrete gutters begin to break down and fail as they age, often becoming porous and letting water in to cause structural damage. To solve these issues, it is best to have your concrete gutters replaced entirely.
Some of the common concrete gutter problems are listed below:
Cold/ Thermal Bridging
Cold bridging is when cold materials meet warmer ones, resulting in the cooling down of the warmer material. Modern guttering is installed outside the walls of your home; however, this was not the case for concrete guttering. The inside of the block will form the top of the outside walls of your home. The outside is exposed to the elements. If it’s cold, the risk of condensation inside your home increases. This would not occur with modern guttering – no part of which would be inside your home.
Sagging and Uneven Gutters
Concrete gutters act as door and window opening lintels. However, without adequate filling or strengthening when they’re fixed, they can sag slightly. Additionally, sometimes new windows cannot handle the weight of the gutters, which also result in sagging, which can be costly to fix.
The Guttering Has No Pitch
Modern guttering is tilted to allow rainwater to flow towards the downpipe to be carried away into the drains. However, concrete guttering was installed on top of level walls. This means the water will sit in the guttering, thereby causing more damage over time. In some cases, rainwater can collect and potentially cause the gutter to collapse in sections. As well as potential damp and mould growth, and in some cases, attract pests.
Failing Mortar Joints
As mentioned above, this allows water to seep through into your brickwork. Over time, it can cause serious damage.
Damp and Mould Inside Your Home
When water seeps through the guttering instead of being carried away from your property, it will affect the fabric of the building. This increases the risk of damp and mould inside your home and associated health risks.
Damage to Interior Décor
Wallpaper can come away from the walls, water stains and damp can be seen, and paint finishes can be ruined. However, redecorating is a waste of time as the problem will return to ruin new décor unless the gutters are replaced entirely.
Concrete gutter replacement is considered to be the best method of fixing the above issues. Concrete gutters are prone to failure, and this will occur over and over again. The only way to fix the issues with concrete gutters is to replace them entirely.
Repairs will be consistent, and the issues will return after a time due to the porousness of the gutters. To fix this, contacting a concrete gutter specialist and having a complete concrete gutter replacement will give your gutters a new lease of life, better functionality, and less repair. Which ultimately means fewer overall costs over time.
Concrete gutter replacement cost
If you are considering a concrete gutter replacement, it is best to contact a concrete gutter replacement specialist and arrange to receive a free quote from them.
