Concrete Guttering Hinckley Nuneaton
Concrete Guttering (Finlock) were fitted in the 50s and 60s as the latest thing in technology. Over time with the change in heating in houses the Concrete Guttering couldn’t cope with the new heating systems in houses.
The interior of the Concrete Guttering temperature was 20 degrees plus while the snow and ice in the actual gutter was often -10 degrees. The difference caused the gutters to move and break the joint seals. The Concrete Guttering then become porous and the water seeping through them gradually damages the concrete more and more until they are soft and start breaking up.
Sections break off and as they are heavy could lead to serious injury or death if they fall off.
Concrete Guttering
Concrete Guttering Cut off method
Concrete Guttering Cut off method The first row of tiles is taken off or pushed back. Any Concrete Guttering lining is removed (if lead lined it is classed as “special waste” and should not be mixed with other debris), being careful to leave enough of a tail to make good later.
The existing concrete gutters are carefully cut off in line with the external brickwork of the wall using a rotary saw with a clutch, which takes a 14” blade. A 14” blade is the smallest size which will cut completely through the 150mm thick Concrete Guttering system. The Square profile blocks are 200mm in depth and will need either a ring saw or one of the later diamond chain saws to achieve the required depth.
The blocks should not be smashed off as this can damage the remaining block compromising its integrity and negating its use as a fixing medium. The blocks should be removed from the scaffold as work commences, preferably with a chute discharging into the skip.
The cut Concrete Guttering should provide a straight and plumb surface to fix to. Again the rafter feet can be extended as per the full removal method. It should be noted that although it is possible to extend the rafters, it is not aesthetically pleasing if a neighbouring property is to retain its concrete gutters. Also, it does increase the cost as an extra row of tiles will need to be installed and the gable ends will need some alteration to accommodate the additional distance created at the eaves.
It is true that extending the rafter feet does improve the thermal properties of the installation, but only by a minor amount as the air void is large, allowing cooling convection currents to negate any appreciable improvement.
Concrete Guttering is taken off and Fascias and soffits of your choice are fitted, together with a suitable gutter profile.
Ventilation to the roof adhering to current building regulation standards should be installed as part of the process, (Equivalent to 10mm continuous ventilation in most situations, except where the ceiling is to be underdrawn to the roof soffit, when 25mm of continuous ventilation is required) together with eaves protection and vermin control.
