Concrete Gutters (1 Viewer)

CrawleySkyBlue · Jun 8, 2021

There must be an expert on here...

Purchasing a new house which has concrete guttering. Is there anything I should be looking out for in relations to possible problems arising due to the concrete guttering? Or is it not a bad an issue as its made out in a few places online?

Thanks for anyone who can provide any insight.

Adge · Jun 8, 2021

CrawleySkyBlue said:
There must be an expert on here...

Purchasing a new house which has concrete guttering. Is there anything I should be looking out for in relations to possible problems arising due to the concrete guttering? Or is it not a bad an issue as its made out in a few places online?

Thanks for anyone who can provide any insight.

Bit of a disaster regarding repairs if they start leaking etc. What we have done in the past if people don’t want to spend too much is just put half round deep flow guttering inside the concrete gutter.

Kneeza · Jun 8, 2021

Taylor Wood Row House with Finlock gutters?
Bastard things.
My best mate had one in Burgess Hill for about 30 years. Sold it last year.
His leaked. The first cure attempt was a coating inside the gutter, which wasn't very effective, and still caused damp along the top of the bedroom etc walls.
Second attempt was a formed aluminium type of liner which did the trick for him.
Apparently the best fix is to have the bottom couple of rows of tiles lifted to give access for a machine which cuts off the gutter section (the rest stays in place as it forms the lintel over the window frame. A waterproof shedder is then put in place and the tiles dropped back on, barge boards affixed and conventional plastic gutters installed. All quite expensive, but a negotiation point.
Check all upstairs window frames for sagging, and be prepared for hassle!

CrawleySkyBlue · Jun 8, 2021

Kneeza said:
Taylor Wood Row House with Finlock gutters?
Bastard things.
My best mate had one in Burgess Hill for about 30 years. Sold it last year.
His leaked. The first cure attempt was a coating inside the gutter, which wasn't very effective, and still caused damp along the top of the bedroom etc walls.
Second attempt was a formed aluminium type of liner which did the trick for him.
Apparently the best fix is to have the bottom couple of rows of tiles lifted to give access for a machine which cuts off the gutter section (the rest stays in place as it forms the lintel over the window frame. A waterproof shedder is then put in place and the tiles dropped back on, barge boards affixed and conventional plastic gutters installed. All quite expensive, but a negotiation point.
Check all upstairs window frames for sagging, and be prepared for hassle!

You guessed it, Taylor Woodrow in Crawley. Is it best to avoid altogether?

Kneeza · Jun 8, 2021

I'm not sure TBH. Half of Sussex seems to be built like that, post-war, so I bet a lot of them have already been sorted. In my mate's little close of about 16 semis, most have been done - mostly by being re-lined, and I don't think too many have issues now. He tells me (I called him this afternoon) that his ex next door neighbour has recently had his done too (ally lined) and is pleased with the result. He reckons there are several companies that do the repairs and full replacement. Probably best get a few quotes. He mentioned about 3k, but I'm not sure if that was for a hipped roof (three sides on a semi, four on a detached) or for just front and back. I may have got the cost totally wrong though, so don't base any offers on that !
Definitely a good bargaining chip though if you prepare up front, and don't mind the rework disruption.

CrawleySkyBlue · Jun 8, 2021

Cheers for the help!

OffenhamSkyBlue · Jul 8, 2021

Presume you don't mean "new, new"? Problem is a concrete gutter and downpipe will contain asbestos. Has this been flagged by your surveyor? If not, he's a charlatan and you can't trust a word in his report.
Before buying, I'd get a quote for specialist removal and disposal, and replacement with plastic. Your soffit boards are almost certainly asbestos too, if it's of that vintage. Fine as long as they are untouched.
If ceilings have a textured finish, that is probably Artex (in which the A stands for asbestos) - they MUST NOT be sanded.

I'd advise proceeding with extreme caution.

PS Sorry for delay in responding to your OP

Kneeza · Jul 8, 2021

Some Finlock gutters may contain asbestos, not all, and as long as they aren't broken won't be a problem (care obviously needed in removal/disposal). The soffit thing is irrelevant as they don't utilise soffits as the whole system is integrated as a one-piece concrete gutter/lintel.
As for Artex - it hasn't contained asbestos since 1984, so if you're confident about it being produced since then, it's not a problem.

OffenhamSkyBlue · Jul 9, 2021

Kneeza said:
Some Finlock gutters may contain asbestos, not all, and as long as they aren't broken won't be a problem (care obviously needed in removal/disposal). The soffit thing is irrelevant as they don't utilise soffits as the whole system is integrated as a one-piece concrete gutter/lintel.
As for Artex - it hasn't contained asbestos since 1984, so if you're confident about it being produced since then, it's not a problem.

Thanks Kneeza - i'm not familiar with the particular Finlock system (didn't even realise concrete gutters were still a thing!), so was just flagging asbestos issues and potential costs of later safe removal. As for the Artex, again i was assuming if it had regular asbestos-reinforced concrete guttering, the house was of a vintage in which the Artex might contain asbestos.

Kneeza · Jul 9, 2021

OffenhamSkyBlue said:
Thanks Kneeza - i'm not familiar with the particular Finlock system (didn't even realise concrete gutters were still a thing!), so was just flagging asbestos issues and potential costs of later safe removal. As for the Artex, again i was assuming if it had regular asbestos-reinforced concrete guttering, the house was of a vintage in which the Artex might contain asbestos.

It's this stuff. Very common around there. Nothing like the asbestos products you thought he meant. It's actually structural (if fraught with issues of its own!).

Adge · Jul 14, 2021

Kneeza said:
Some Finlock gutters may contain asbestos, not all, and as long as they aren't broken won't be a problem (care obviously needed in removal/disposal). The soffit thing is irrelevant as they don't utilise soffits as the whole system is integrated as a one-piece concrete gutter/lintel.
As for Artex - it hasn't contained asbestos since 1984, so if you're confident about it being produced since then, it's not a problem.

Just to confirm-asbestos wasn’t banned for use in the Uk until 2000 so Artex etc could have still contained it after 1984 one would assume.

Kneeza · Jul 14, 2021

Adge said:
Just to confirm-asbestos wasn’t banned for use in the Uk until 2000 so Artex etc could have still contained it after 1984 one would assume.

I realise that, but acording to the manufacturer they stopped using it in their formulation in 1984. Of course, old stock may have been around a while longer.

Flying Fokker · Jul 23, 2021

Lead line the gutters. not a bad idea. Seen it done. Berwyn Ave Coventry

Adge · Jul 24, 2021

Flying Fokker said:
Lead line the gutters. not a bad idea. Seen it done. Berwyn Ave Coventry

That’s a hell of an expensive way to do it but a good permanent fix if you were staying in the house.

Concrete Gutters (1 Viewer)

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