Concrete Gutter Removal

Concrete Gutter Repair

If your house was built between 1935 and 1970 there’s a good chance that you have concrete gutters – especially if the house was originally council stock.

Concrete gutters – also known as Finlock gutters – became popular with architects and builders after the second world war, when cast iron was in short supply.

At the time, it seemed an excellent solution, as the concrete sections served as a cost-effective method of capping cavity walls whilst incorporating the guttering itself and required no fascia. The concrete sections were simply butted together before installing the roof and the pre-cast gutter trough was lined and sealed with bitumen or mineral felt.

However, since most concrete gutters are now over 60 years old, the downsides of this type of guttering are becoming a real problem for home-owners across Oxfordshire.

Cracked and leaking concrete gutters (also known as Finlock Gutters) can be repaired, but it's better to replace them entirely.

Over time, Finlock concrete gutters may develop cracks and leaks, and repairing them can be challenging due to them being structurally integral to the building. People have tried to re-line them with bitumen, lead, mastic, aluminium foil, roofing felt and fibreglass, but once the sections have started to shift, none of these methods will solve the issue long term.

Some roofing companies suggest covering Finlock concrete gutters with a continuous fitted aluminium lining, but that can be expensive and still requires the lowest row of tiles to be removed. And you still have concrete gutters.

Concrete Gutter Removal and Replacement

So, whilst re-lining your Finlock gutters is possible, in the long term it is not cost effective and can still lead to very costly structural problems in the future. This is why when dealing with Finlock concrete gutters we prefer to cut them away completely, then fit new plastic soffits and gutters.

The problems with concrete gutters

Sagging or movement:

Over time, the building may move slightly and/or the gutter sections may sag within their mounted structure, leading to leaks and water seepage. This can result in water leaking into cavity walls, damage to the property, including dampness, mould growth, and structural issues.

Thermal Bridging:

Finlock gutters bridge the gap from exterior wall to interior wall thus creating a direct thermal bridge from the outside of your home to the inside. In warmer months this is no issue but during the colder months condensation build-up can become a big problem, soaking interior walls and leading to mould.

Lining Failure:

There are many reasons why the lining in Finlock gutters fail, but the main cause is related to the thermal expansion and contraction of the lining that come with temperature changes. In this instance, some linings may separate at junctions or weak points and the heavy inflexible concrete troughs can crack at joints providing the perfect entry point for water. Left un-repaired, water in the gutter may enter weak points in the guttering ending up in the the cavity and causing costly damage to the wall ties, insulation, internal plaster or other wall finishes and damp – the source of the leak can also be extremely difficult to find!