Fascias 4 u Midlands - Concrete Guttering

Fascias 4 u Midlands Limited are specialist installers of all types of replacement fascias, soffits and guttering but there are very few companies that are capable of replacing concrete replacement or Flinlock replacement guttering.

Concrete or Flinlock guttering were installed in the 1950's, 60's and 70's because it was supposedly a maintenance free product.

Over the years the general public has had the guttering lined with aluminium or bitumen but unfortunately this is only a temporary method and will eventually cause the home owner problems. The problems vary from having damp in the rooms and having to decorate regularly, mould or black stains in the internal walls. Cold rooms because the concrete transports the cold and damp through the wall from the outside to the inside. One of the biggest problems is when the windows are replaced and the concrete guttering sags over the windows.

This also causes problems with the weight of the concrete on the windows which can cause the windows to give way under the pressure of the concrete and roof above. We have covered two possible methods of solving the problems such as aluminium lining and bitumen but the only real way and correct way is to remove the problem. This takes me back to my carpentry and joinery when being an apprentice we were taught how to do things properly and not cut corners!

So the correct way is to remove the concrete and replace it with new Swish PVC fascia boards, vented soffits and guttering.

First of all we will erect safety scaffolding (Not ladders or towers) as you cannot safely remove the concrete unless you have a firm platform to work off!
Once we are working at waist height we can remove the tiles which project into the concrete guttering.

Underneath the tiles usually will be a layer of felt and in some cases the felt itself has perished quite far up so we will have to replace it with new breathable roofing felt.
With the aid of a large concrete cutting saw we will now remove the concrete guttering to just inside the brickwork, but most importantly we leave the inner concrete in place because this acts as a lintel and supports the roof joists. (In some severe cases we do install a new lintel above the windows)

Once the concrete has been safely removed and cut back we will now see the original roof timbers and wall plate.

Once the timbers have been installed new PVC braces are secured to each and every joist, this will form a secure and straight fixing point for the vented soffits and replacement fascia boards.

We install vented soffit boards so that the roof space and timbers may breath. (Some companies don’t install vented soffits or any other means of ventilation) New 16mm or 20mm Swish fascia boards are now installed to the braces with 65mm stainless steel fixings to ensure the fascias stay straight and true.

New ogee guttering and down pipes are installed to take the water away quickly.
A new row of tiles in addition to the existing tiles will be installed. As you gather because we have extended the roof timbers we now need to install additional tiles. We usually install second hand matching tiles to blend in with the existing roof.

Some companies don’t extend the existing timbers which defeats the object of removing the problems of the roof. i.e. by securing directly to the existing concrete you transmit the cold directly trough the PVC into the concrete and into the house also the roof cannot breathe as no ventilation points have been installed.
Advantages removing the concrete guttering and installing new Swish Fascias, Soffits and Guttering with Fascias 4 u Midlands Limited.

No more problems with damp.
No more problems with water seeping through into the internal walls. No more black mould or plaster falling off. No more decorating every twelve months. No more water holding in the guttering. Insulation will be scientifically better and the room warmer. Cosmetically this product will enhance any home.