Home maintenance
Guttering and drainpipes often go unnoticed, but if they develop faults can cause structural problems, so find out how to repair or replace them
Renovation expert Roger Hunt advises on rainwater goods
Designed to manage the rainwater running off the roof, gutters, hopper heads and downpipes are a necessity on most buildings. Some are architectural features in their own right, others are more mundane. Whatever the style of guttering and downpipes, good maintenance is essential. The failure of rainwater goods, as these items are collectively known, can be disastrous and is a frequent cause of damp problems within buildings. Water saturating masonry may also result in frost damage and staining and will make a wall feel cold.
Until the advent of plastic and aluminium, rainwater goods were predominantly made of lead and cast iron. When making repairs, like for like materials should generally be used, although cast aluminium is sometimes employed as an alternative to cast iron as it’s relatively lightweight and doesn’t corrode. Plastic products should be avoided except as a temporary measure as their appearance is out of keeping with old houses.
Care must be taken when using ladders or working at height and be aware that cast-iron components can be particularly heavy. Always call in a reliable builder if in doubt.
Repairing and overhauling
Rainwater goods should be checked regularly and it’s a good idea to make an initial inspection while it’s raining. This makes it easier to spot dripping joints, overflowing gutters and leaking downpipes. It often helps to use a pair of binoculars, and a more thorough inspection can be made in dry weather.
Leaves and debris
Problems often result from blockages due to leaves and debris, such as moss, being washed off the roof. Gutters will overflow, causing water damage to the building’s structure, while downpipes may freeze and fracture if water is trapped. The rubbish from the gutter should be scooped out into a bucket using a small trowel or your hands, but be sure to wear gloves. Downpipes may be ‘rodded’ with a garden cane or hosepipe, turning the water on to flush the system. Debris can be kept out by fitting pipe balloons at the top of downpipes and installing gutter guards in the form of mesh clipped over the top or special brushes laid inside.
Paintwork
Cast-iron rainwater goods rust if not regularly painted. All loose paint and rust must be thoroughly removed using a wire brush and the metal recoated immediately.
Use a good quality paint system, possibly with a separate rust inhibitor. Make sure all surfaces are covered, particularly the back. If necessary, use a small brush while holding a piece of cardboard to protect the wall. Always paint new sections of rainwater goods before fixing in place.
Junctions
The joints between different components are inevitably week points and rusted bolts are a common problem. Replacing these is relatively easy and they are best bedded in gutter sealant. Check that downpipes have not become disconnected and that they are firmly screwed to the wall.
Cracks and splits
The source of water seepage from downpipes and gutters is not always obvious so check the back, if necessary using a mirror. Often these areas are difficult to paint, resulting in cast iron rusting. Use joint tape or gutter sealant to provide a temporary patch but always repair rainwater goods promptly, if necessary replacing sections of gutter or downpipe. Lead downpipes may split, crack or sag but are fixed tight to the wall so problems are even harder to spot. Repairs should be made by a specialist leadworker.
Gutters
It is essential that gutters have a ‘fall’ so water flows away; to test this use a bucket of water. If the fall is insufficient, the gutter will need to be taken down to enable the gutter brackets to be realigned. Problems may occur if the gutter brackets are loose or missing. The brackets must be able to support the weight of the gutter as well as snow or ice, so they need to be well fixed into sound timber.
Drainage
To ensure gullies and drains at the foot of downpipes are running freely, empty a bucket of water into them and, if necessary, clear obstructions. Install a removable cover over them to prevent debris entering. Drains must take water well clear of the base of the building. If drainage is inadequate, improvements will be required.
Maintenance checklist
● Clear leaves and other debris from gutters at least annually.
● Repair loose, broken or cracked rainwater goods and gutter brackets promptly.
● Deal with rust and corrosion.
● Look for moss and discolouration on walls that may indicate leaks.
● Find the source of damp patches within the building and remedy the problem.
● Remove plant growth in or around rainwater goods as this can cause blockages and damage.
● Identify where broken gutter bolts found on the ground have come from.
● Check water is draining away at the foot of downpipes and clear of the building.
Fit for the future
Rainwater is a valuable natural resource so consider installing butts at the bottom of downpipes so that the water can be used in the garden when required. Be sure they have an overflow that carries water well clear of foundations and that butts are regularly cleaned out to avoid the formation of legionella bacteria, especially when pumping and spraying water from them. More sophisticated rainwater harvesting systems allow rainwater from roofs to be stored and used for flushing toilets, washing cars and even for washing machines.
Useful contacts
Alumasc – aluminium and cast-iron rainwater goods. Tel: 01536 383810; alumascrainwater.co.uk Brett martin – provides a range of cast-iron-effect guttering and downpipe profiles for traditional castiron style. Tel: 028 9084 9999 ; brettmartin.com Hammerite – protective paints for metal.
Tel: 0333 222 7171; hammerite.co.uk
Hargreaves Foundry – cast-iron drainage systems. Tel: 01422 330607; hargreavesfoundry.co.uk Hedgehog gutter Brush – gutter guards. Tel: 01558 610512; hedgehog-gutter-brush.co.uk
lead contractors Association – index of specialist and industry-approved contractors. Tel: 01342 317888; leadcontractors.co.uk
J & JW longbottom – cast-iron rainwater products. Tel: 01484 682141; longbottomfoundry.co.uk rainwater direct – heritage rainwater systems. Tel: 0800 888 6054; rainwaterdirect.co.uk tuscan Foundry Products - cast-iron rainwater goods. Tel: 0333 987 4452; tuscanfoundry.com yeoman rainguard - rainwater systems in various materials. Tel: 0113 279 5854: rainguard.co.uk