Correct fall on guttering?

[jess marley]

The front of our house is approx 43 foot long. At the moment it only has one downpipe (see pic) and the gutters overflow LOTS when it rains. Would it not be better to have two down-pipes? And if so , what kind of arrangement should they be in? And will a change to this be something I need L.B.C for?
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[Nemesis]

Where does your water go? Does it simply run down the road?

That looks, in the pic, a very narrow diameter downipe, and it's not terribly sensitively placed.

Are the gutters clear, is the opening into the downpipe ditto?

LBC - ask the CO!

http://www.maintainourheritage.co.uk/

 

[CHRIS]

1/600 is the norm on guttering fall, 25mm in 15m or 1" in 50FT in old money so play with that and see if you can have 2 down pipes - 1 at each end with a high point in the middle.

Check where it flows to so you dont cause more problems and check LBC etc

 

[Nemesis]

In fact - in close up the existing guttering has an interesting ogee type profile which should be retained - it's not simply half-round. It could even be wood! But that down pipe looks way inadequate to take the water from the roof.

Adding another downpipe may mean either water flowing round the porch, or the addition of another gulley and that will be complicated.

 

[jess marley]

Wishing the guttering were interesting but I'm afraid it's just placcy and it is appallingly sited.
Thought it'd be a CO job, and we are in a conservation area too...more forms....

Thanks for the technical info Chris, I'll be getting the tape out. But you're all quite right, what am I going to do with the water once it's come down?
The run off at the moment just discharges onto the road, and the porch already floods from the run off from the council car-park behind us. Ho hum.
So if I can/should put another down-pipe at the other end, I should be draining it into the main system, should I?

 

[Nemesis]

You know, there has until recently been a climber up and over that gutter.

In the short term, if this was mine, and assuming that the existing isn't full of holes, I'd be inclined to ensure it is cleared out, and think about moving the downpipe to the left. The hole that leaves will require filling, if you can get a bit of matching gutter, but you could put a larger diameter pipe on and just allow it carry on running down the road.

 

[jess marley]

I do indeed know about the climber, having watched my husband wobbling about on a ladder clearing it off the slate hangings.

I think we're stuck with doing the full job on the gutter as we need scaff for the roof anyway, and it's more cost effective long term to get the whole lot sorted.

 

[Nemesis]

The tree on the right will soon shed leaves too.

So maybe some more ladder wobbling would be useful, make sure gutters are clear as is downpipe.

 

[NT]

If its not removed, I hope that downpipe gets painted so it doesnt stick out like a sore thumb.

Moving it should not require any parts, you just swap the bits of guttering.

What was there when it was listed? That would give you more idea of where you stand.

Its a very basic questoin, but worth asking just in case: has the gutter been cleaned out? If not, it can be done from the ground with a suitable tool.


NT

 

[jess marley]

Will paint whatever guttering we do put back, have no fear, but I'm pretty sure that it was as is at listing, so better c.o the whole thing.
Better-half back from work tonight, so after a few hours sleep I'll make sure he's back up there at first light to make a fresh inspection.

 

[Nemesis]

It's amazing how much crud gutters can collect, particularly if there are trees nearby.

 

[Penners]

Is it an optical illusion, or is there a high point in the run of guttering immediately above each of the far left and right upstairs windows?

If there is, then the water that runs into the gutter outside these two high points is going to flow away from the downpipe - hence your overflows.

 

[jess marley]

Well, I just went out and had a look and yep, there is a little kink above the left hand window, I think we can safely conclude that , scientifically speaking, it's all in a right ol' state and needs sorting out. Pronto.

 

[NT]

I forget the details at ground level, but am aware that even a small crack in hard surfacing under a spout can allow the entry of quite a bit of water to the foundations, in some cases.

NT