Concrete guttering, also known as Finlock gutters, can prove to have a lot of issues for homeowners. They were originally built as an alternative to the scarce materials used in the War effort. As such, Finlock gutters were built on homes between the 1950s-1970s and have now been shown to be unreliable.
Concrete guttering begins to break down over time and becomes porous – losing its waterproof abilities. Because of this, they will need costly repairs and ongoing maintenance to rectify any damage.
Concrete Gutter Issues
Concrete guttering is prone to a few issues:
Lining failure is when water is allowed to seep through due to the failing of the gutters. It can be incredibly problematic and should be addressed immediately to avoid further costs.
Cold/thermal bridging is when colder materials meet warmer ones, resulting in the cooling down of the warmer material. This can be challenging in all weather conditions and can even affect your energy consumption and how well your home insulates. When these problems arise, it can sometimes cause the wallpaper to peel away at the tops of the wall, ruining the beauty of your home.
Finlock gutters act as an efficient door and window opening joist. However, if there is not adequate filling or strengthening when they are fixed, they can begin to sag which affects the beauty of your home and the guttering’s functionality.
Due to Finlock gutter’s lack of reliability with water, they aren’t very good at draining water. The water remains in the gutter and can cause issues with the fabric of the building which increases the risk of mold and damp growth.
Damp and mold can cause further issues for the interior of your home. The damp and mold can grow substantially, causing the wallpaper to come away from the walls and be an issue for your health.
All of these issues can be particularly expensive to fix and leave a lot of concrete gutter owners confused about what they can do. Realistically, you have three options: replacement, repair, or lining.
Repairing the gutters is the cheapest method of ‘fixing’ them. However, it is very common for these issues to return and need repairing once again. As such, we don’t recommend repairing concrete gutter issues as they will need repairing consistently and rack up a large bill over time.
Another option is to line the gutters with a waterproof membrane. Lining concrete gutters is good for a short period but it will not resolve the issues forever. It is also relatively expensive and not a long-term fix.
The best solution to concrete gutter issues is to get them removed and replaced. Replacing your concrete gutters can be expensive but it offers a brand-new life to your gutters, ensuring none of the issues return. A concrete gutter replacement is the most cost-effective solution as it fixes all the issues together and results in no additional repair costs down the line. The most effective solution for your concrete gutters.
