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Home & Garden Articles
Aluminium Rainwater Guttering
Tue 10 Jul 2007 - 15:24
Aluminium Rainwater Guttering
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Aman_Kumar]Aman Kumar
The type of guttering on a building gives an indication of the period in which it was built. On older buildings you will find iron or cement pipes and on buildings built recently or in recent past you will find plastic guttering pipes. The latest is seamless aluminium guttering.
The older systems of iron pipes, rolled steel and cement guttering have almost same problems regarding their fixings and joints. But modern plastic rainwater pipes are lightweight, durable and are normally self colored. Each producer has his own system of joining and fixing. Some use brackets and separate joining clips while there are others who use brackets having joining clips.
Maintenance of guttering:
Defective pipes and rainwater guttering is a source of many damp spots in the building. The guttering and rainwater pipework are installed to carry rainwater away from the building but if not properly maintained, the water runs along the wall and dose to the building eventually damaging the main structure. Therefore, it is necessary to keep it well maintained.
The most appropriate time to carry out repairs is in autumn when rains are over and weather is dry and slightly pleasant.
If water is seen coming over the side of pipe during heavy rain it means that some rubbish is blocking its opening. Scoop the rainwater pipe with a trowel or a cardboard piece which can bend into face of guttering pipe. After removing all the solid rubbish and soft rubbish underneath flush the guttering with water. The best method is using a hosepipe.
Be careful while clearing a downpipe. If you try to push the blockage downward you might block it instead of opening it. Place a bowl at the bottom of the pipe so that the rubbish does not go down the gutter at ground level and block it. Get the rubbish out by using a stiff wire of steal.
Guttering is normally fixed in a way as to give it a little slope. If water is collecting along the run of the guttering then you might need to reposition it or change its slope. If the affected position is plastic guttering it is probably easy to fix it. Inspect cast iron and steel pipes if there is any rust; if you find it then clean it with a wire brush and paint the bare areas with anti rust paint. Fill any hairline cracks with two coats of anti rust paint.
If a joint is leaking and you are unable to dismantle it then you need to carryout repairs. Seal the leaking joint internally with waterproof mastic after cleaning the surface. If one joint is leaking there might be others also so do a thorough job and apply the mastic to all joints. If a leak has developed in a plastic rainwater pipe, just replace that part of it, and apply master sealer at both ends to prevent any leakage. While buying a replacement section of guttering, remember to take along an old piece of guttering so that you buy new pipe of correct diameter and shape.
Metal guttering and rainwater pipes should be painted to keep them safe. If the paint of your guttering has spoiled just clean it with a sand paper apply a primer and after it dries paint it up again.
Basically all these jobs should be done by a professional because they have expertise to handle such jobs. But if you wish to do it yourself you can do it too by following the above mentioned guidelines.
More articles are available at http://www.article-ghost-writer.com & http://www.bhunit.co.in
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aman_Kumar http://EzineArticles.com/?Aluminium-Rainwater-Guttering&id=632991
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