Why Important
This guide will cover the importance of monitoring, what to look for and when, how to repair, and what to avoid (to prevent long-term problems).
What to look for
Often wall staining is the most obvious visual sign of gutter and pipe failures. Downpipes can become dislodged or broken, or the out flow blocked. The items made from cast iron can rust or crack.
Finding plants, such as ferns, moss, or Buddlia growing from walls, behind pipes, from gutters, are signs of leaks, and are a frequent sign of water ingress to the building. That causes expensive and destructive outbreaks of dry rot, mould & dampness and internal plaster failures.
When to look
Examine the pipework, gutters and rain-hoppers carefully for any cracks or loose joints – watch for tell-tale marks on walls after rain. These must be repaired before repainting is done.
In the Autumn, set a date for checking the gutters and down pipes are clear of leaves, silt, and weeds, and the water free-flowing. At the same time, check for displaced gutters, rain hoppers and pipes.
How to fix
Down pipes; and other rain goods
Clear away blockages from the out flow so the water can drain away.
Reconnect dislodged pipes and replace broken pipes with similar material (NOT UPVC)
Any areas of rust should be wire brushed back to a clean bright metal surface and then primed with two coats of a suitable metal primer. For more information see Railings.
Gutters and rain hoppers
Clear away blockages so the water can drain away.
Reconnect dislodged gutters and replace broken rain hoppers with similar material (NOT UPVC)
The insides of gutters were traditionally painted with two coats of bitumen or tar as this is extremely water proof and is still the best material for this use.
Re-painting Pipework
Pipework on older properties is often black in colour. Therefore, before changing colour from Black we recommend Seeking Listed Planning Permission. Pipework should be painted with hard-wearing paints.
It is often possible to find the original colours used on ironwork or other painted areas (such doors and windows) by examination of the hidden paint layers. Care examination of those paint layers should discover if the original colour was a gloss or a matt finish.
You must check what is acceptable to Wirral Council Conservation officers before applying the original colour coach enamel paint.
Camouflaging pipework
Where the wall is being painted with a masonry paint, the down pipes may have been painted in the same material to help camouflage them.
Down pipes and the visible underside of gutters may have been painted a stone or grey colour in a gloss finish to blend into the external stone facades.
Revealed Pipework
Some older down pipes may have been previously painted with a black glossy bitumen finish. This can bleed through a paler coloured oil paint applied on top of it, giving dirty and unsightly brown streaks.
To check if this is likely to happen, rub the black surface vigorously with a rag soaked in white spirits to see if the black paint will soften. If you do get streaks, then the paint must be sealed with a bitumen sealer before applying an oil gloss paint, or a water based masonry paint. The paint should not discolour.
As an alternative to black gloss finish, the paint colour used in Edinburgh is known as ‘Jim’s mix’, which is a mixture of equal parts of BS 08 B25 (Dulux Beaver)and BS 12 B21 (Moorland Green).
Another option is to use a dark grey micaceous iron oxide paint, which gives a discrete matt finish.
Avoiding creating problems
Do not use plastic or PVC piping for down-pipes, gutters or rain-pots/rain hoppers.