Part 9 - Guttering
Guttering is the narrow channel or trough that runs along the edges of the roof and collects the water, diverting it to the downpipes and into the drainage system on the ground. Guttering is essential to protect the foundation of a building by getting the water away from it as well as preventing erosion and leaks into basements and crawlspaces. Guttering also works to protect painted or stained surfaces such as window frames and can be used to collect rainwater for other uses.
The most common materials for guttering is cast iron, lead, zinc, galvanised steel, painted steel, copper, aluminium, PVC, concrete, stone and wood.
What is guttering?
In its most basic form, a rain gutter can be an integral trough that sits at the lowest edge of the roof to collect the water, made from the roof materials and flashings. The most common form we have in the UK is a trough of metal or plastic that sits just before the edge of the roof and also below the projected slope of the roof to catch water splashing down it. Occasionally, guttering can be an integral structure of the wall under the roof edge, made from masonry and formed as the crowning element of the wall.
A new version of guttering now available is made with cold forming technology that allows the creation of continuous gutters along the whole side of the roof. This means there are no joints in the guttering that can lead to weaknesses or leaks. They are often referred to as seamless and are available in a number of shapes, sizes and finishes.
Protection
There are also a number of elements that can be included in a guttering system to allow it to work smoothly. The biggest problem with guttering can either when it is clogged or when it comes lose from the roof. In some parts of the world, clogged gutters are a serious health risk as stagnant water attracts mosquitoes as well as encouraging grass and weeds to grow. In the UK, the biggest clogging risk comes more from leaves and other plant-related debris that is blown onto the roof.
Gutter guards are sometimes used to help deal with this problem and these work by letting water in but stopping debris from going with its. These can include strainers, snap in metal or plastic guards, filtered guards, stainless steel guards, hinged guards, total gutter covers and also gutter brushes. However, no matter how much or how little gutter protect you install, gutting does need regularly maintenance to avoid a costly problem.
Types of guttering
When it comes to deciding what type of guttering to add to your roof, there are a number of factors to consider. If you are replacing guttering, consider if the existing product did the job or is a larger guttering needed? Did it ever overflow even when it wasn't blocked as this is a sign that the guttering was too small for the job. However if you add a larger sized guttering, you want it to look proportionate and also to fit in with other houses around yours.
Semi-round guttering is perhaps the most commonly used type of guttering in the UK. There are a number of brands producing the products that offer a comparable product but a different look so you can choose the one that ties in with your house's overall appearance. It is commonly available in plastic but also in traditional cast iron.
Squareline guttering holds around 25% more water than a semi-round guttering and is considered perfect for modern homes due to its look. However, it doesn't always work with other types of guttering so may not match up with neighbouring properties on semi-detached or terraced houses. It is available in white but also black, brown and grey.
Deepflow guttering looks very similar to semi-round but is around 95mm deep, so much deeper. This means it holds a lot more rainwater and is usually compatible with other semi-round style guttering. It is perfect where the original guttering wasn't sufficient or where you think the property needs extra capacity.
Ogee guttering doesn't usually work with other types of guttering but hold more water than semi-round and even sometimes more than deepflow. It is usually used on high-spec buildings and has a hidden in-line guttering support system for a more streamlined appearance.
Installing guttering
When you guy guttering, you also need to purchase the coordinating connectors, stop ends, set angle pieces, outlets and clips and brackets. The latter are normally spaced around 760mm apart, so you need to measure to see how many you need. To work this out, place a bracket against the fascia board where the guttering would be just below the edge of the roof tiles. Mark the point and measure to the other end of the fascia board then divide by the recommended space to see how many you will need.
Guttering needs to be installed with a €˜fall' that lets water slide down into it but it only need to be around 5mm across a distance of 920mm so a guttering that is 4800, long will need a fall of 25mm. Chalk up the line from the first bracket to the last, taking into account this fall and you can start screwing the brackets into place.
At the bottom of the pipe, one or two offset bends may be needed to reach over the drain on the ground. A PVC adhesive can also be used to join lengths of pipe together if this is needed. Downpipe clips are used at every socket connection and there should be a minimum of 2m between. An 8mm gap needs to be left at the top of every section to allow for expansion.
Aftercare
Once the guttering is in place, it is important to take care of it. Once a year you should climb up and remove any dead leaves, debris and moss you find that can stop the guttering working properly. Some manufacturers recommend a gutter brush to help with maintenance.
When winter is approaching, it is also worth giving the guttering a general check to make sure none of the brackets are showing signs of wear and tear. If they are, they should be replaced before the worst of the weather comes as the weight of snow or the harshness of ice can break them and cause a guttering collapse.
Reference URLs
http://www.davesdiytips.com/2009/05/how-to-install-pvc-gutters-and-down-pipes/
http://www.roofline.org.uk/Marshals/Install.htm
