After months of sunshine and very little rain Britain is getting its’ fair share of downpours - hooray for the replenishing reservoirs but not so much joy for the problems it brings to the material weathering of industrial buildings...particularly the gutters which face the brunt of taking rain away from the building.
So the obvious answer is they collect water draining from the roof, leading it to the downpipes to the drains... but what if the gutters are blocked, broken, overflowing - what are the implications?
If the drains are blocked or even if the rain is heavy enough, you might see water overflowing the gutters, spilling onto foundations and running down your walls leading to potential water ingress. Water ingress = water infiltrating the brick work = DAMP = big repair problems and big money needing to be spent.
If the gutters are collecting water but it has nowhere to go, the damage on the gutters is happening at speed. Corrosion around the joints and fixings in a gutter is where it will start – corroding bolts and failing sealant creates weak points in the gutters...enabling water to seep through and create the issues mentioned above. The gutter lengths will also corrode creating holes and breakages. All of this is repairable and better still, preventable.
If you own or are involved in the maintenance of large industrial buildings, regular maintenance checks and repairs are a must – preventative steps to keep on top of defects and corrosion issues will help pro-long the life of your roof.
Checking your gutters….Before you get up, look up. Can you see what is causing an obvious problem?
Routine checking is key to keep on top of your gutter maintenance issues, however there will be problems that will need attention to pro-long the life of your gutters.
A waterproof gutter coating can be used instead of replacing an entire system and as a way of preventing issues arising.
Depending on the substrate you’ll need to take different steps to repair and coat your gutters….
Metal industrial gutters: It is suggested to spot prime areas of corrosion as well as joints and fixings of a gutter. Advantage® Sealant will provide extra protection.
Following with a single coat of Advantage® for Gutters which has added microfibres, provides extra strength and more body to get the correct thickness in one coat on the vertical sides of the gutter.
Asbestos or concrete gutters: due to their microporous nature, they will require a full prime before applying Advantage® for Gutters.
Both systems are damp tolerant on application, meaning applicators can get the job done right throughout the year. So, if you have any condensation or any water residue you simply need to wipe it away, providing a greater degree of flexibility, and allowing projects to be completed more efficiently.
Advantage® for Gutters also comes with a 15 year warrantee giving you confidence in choosing the system and reassurance that providing regular maintenance is carried out (removal of dirt and debris) your gutters will last for many years to come. To find out more click below or call our team of experts on the 01453 872850 to talk through and gutter queries.