Firstly, Finlock liners are used to prevent water entry for concrete gutters. When Finlock Liners are lined correctly they can last from 6 to 10 years. Repairing concrete gutters is a cheaper alternative than removing them, as this can save money and extend the lifespan of the current concrete gutter.
When do you need Finlock Relining?
As stated above Finlock lining last 6 – 10 years and once the lifespan is complete, homeowners tend to reline as this is cheaper and the installation process is quicker than removing or replacing.
The Concrete Gutter Lining Process…
- Firstly, when the specialist come to assess your concrete gutter, they’ll check to see how much work is needed, so then come up with a price.
- Remove any debris, leaves and dirt from the concrete gutter, because when dirt etc piles up inside the gutters don’t work efficiently and can attract insects etc.
- Remove any old lining system that is already being used as lining done to a poor standard can harm your concrete gutter.
- Once the old lining is removed, install the newer Fibreglass gutter lining.
- Lastly, install an EPS system, this ensures no water can get through.
- Once fitted in the roof’s tiles will be carefully fitted back on.
- Once this has been completed the Installation process is done.
Concrete Gutter Liners
Many homeowners with Concrete gutter that have faced a problem will use a Lining system. There are three types of gutter linings available – aluminium, rubber, and torch-on felt. When adding a new lining system, this should be done by a specialist, as they’ll have the experience in the industry and special tools on hand.
When homeowners think about adding a Lining system to their home, they’ll have to alert their neighbours. When gutters aren’t lined up properly, this may create a weak spot and a point of entry for water to come through and cause leakages.
The life expectancy of Concrete gutter lining, done correctly is 6 to 10 years.
The lining is done with High-quality fibreglass material and when applied to the concrete gutter, this can have many advantages from stronger to longer-lasting concrete gutters.
Why were Concrete Gutters introduced?
Concrete gutters were an economical alternative to replace iron gutters. This was because of the steel shortages at the time. They were built on many homes between the 1950s and 1970s, and since they were seen as a low-cost material, they were a popular choice for many. The use of Cavity constructed walls was rising and the use of concrete gutter increased as well. It was found out that they worked well together.
Although Concrete gutters worked well in the 1970s because of the UK’s weather, houses were becoming stronger and smarter. Therefore, concrete gutters were becoming outdated and harming homes without the owners realising.
The Problems
For Concrete gutters, water is harmful and is the reason why many Concrete gutters tend to fail. When concrete gutters break down, they lose their waterproof properties which is known as Porous. Leaving your Concrete gutters unrepaired can be costly for the Homeowner. When Concrete gutters leak, the water can lead to dampness, moulding, lining failure etc.
For Homeowners, dampness and mould is dangerous to inhale and is a factor for many health problems. Mould and Damp are caused by excess moisture.
- Can cause allergic reactions.
- It is a Toxic substance
- Red eyes and Skin rash
- Mould can cause Asthma attacks
- Runny nose
Dampness and Mould can be dangerous towards the Elderly and people more susceptible to health problems Many homes in the UK still have concrete gutters and as the UK weather changes frequently this harms the concrete gutters.
As previously mentioned, over time Concrete gutters lose their waterproof properties and this results in the Water sitting dormant in the gutters eventually causing leaks, lining failure, sagging etc. Lining Failure is when the water slips through the cracks and crevices, this is problematic for the homeowner. The problem with concrete gutter Lining failure is that it’s almost impossible to spot where the leak has occurred. For this homeowner, this can be a costly process as they’ll have to redecorate their interior home as the water leaks could peel the wallpaper and dampness and mould is dangerous to breathe in.
Lining Failure – When lining failure occurs the lifespan of the concrete gutters is decreasing fast. The problem with leaks in concrete gutters is they can be an impossible problem to solve because the water entry can start from anywhere.
Cold/ Thermal Bridging – This occurs when the Concrete gutter joins the house walls and causes the walls to cool down. In the winter months when homes tend to turn on their radiators, this increases cold bridging that can harm the insulation in the home which causes many problems for the homeowner.
Problems Homeowners face when their Concrete gutter isn’t Lined
- Debris etc can be trapped in your gutter
- Clogged drains lead to broken gutters and can damage the roof over time.
- In the UK the weather isn’t reliable and can change. Harsher weather conditions can damage your gutter.
- Clogged gutter can cause water to leak into your home.
- Thermal bridging can cause problems when insulating your home which can be expensive
- Broken gutters attract water to your home that results in cracked walls.
How much does Concrete Gutter lining cost?
Many Concrete gutter lining companies don’t have a specific cost until they assess how much work is needed, this is then called a free quote. A Free quote means the company you are working with, will check what needs to be done then after they have visually inspected the gutters, they will determine the cost and how much work will be needed.
The lining is done with High-quality fibreglass material and when applied to the concrete gutter, this can have many advantages from stronger to longer-lasting concrete gutters.
Conclusion
Finlock gutter lining is a much cheaper option compared to replacing finlock gutters, therefore many homeowners choose to line or reline their finlock/concrete gutters, which is a time-saving and affordable option.
