What is a box gutter?
If you can’t see your roof gutter from ground level, then you probably have a box gutter that is ‘boxed’ into your roof.
Most houses don’t have box gutters. They have gutters running around the external perimeter of the roofs and these are called ‘eaves gutters’ (even though some houses now do not have eaves). The picture below shows a box gutter (foreground) and eaves gutters in the background.
Want to get acquainted with some box gutter facts that will help you keep yours leak-proof?
We have a video to help you below:
Do you have a leaking box gutter that needs repairing?
Box gutter repairs are often the first option available for you. There are things to keep in mind if you are looking at box gutter repairs.
Most factories have box gutters and many houses with edge parapet walls have some type of box gutter that either needs repair of replacement.
When box gutters leak, there are two ways that you will experience the result:
- A deluge of water inside the property during a heavy rain or…
- Slight dampness progressing to constant drips over a length of time.
Box gutter repairs for that deluge leak.
If you get flooded inside the property during a heavy downpour – then you have a blockage somewhere along your box gutter.
Box gutters in factories usually have sumps to collect the water and force it down the downpipe.
If the box gutter and sumps are not maintained regularly, you will get this….
There are design standards for sizing of box gutters and downpipes. But these designs assume no blockage. It does not matter how large the box gutter is – it will overflow if the downpipe outlet is blocked.
You don’t have trees?
Well, we once found a box gutter sump blocked by the combination of a sweets wrapper and a old coke can. It does not take much to cause a blockage…
At least these box gutter repair situations above can easily be fixed by a bit of clean up work.
What about overflow insurance?
You may want to sleep better during those stormy nights (after feeling a bit guilty about forgetting to clean your box gutter). If you have overflows in your box gutter, you can go back to sleep.
If you don’t – then you will need to seriously consider this option. An overflow is the most effective box gutter repair method to counter the sudden deluge leak.
- Leaking joint
- Rusty box gutter
Very often, sealants break at the joints or pop rivets break off. Water will weep constantly during any intensity rain.
The repair is quite simple. Clean the box gutter joint and re-seal.
The rusty box gutter has a temporary solution. A quick patch of the rusted areas will keep water out for a short while – and allow for preparations for a proper job. Which is…a full box gutter replacement with a colorbond box gutter.
The main thing with box gutters that show premature rust is to find out why.
If there is ponding water – then the new replacement box gutter should not copy this error.
Proper falls to the outlets will increase the life of the replacement box gutter.
Box gutter repairs – the way forward
Putting overflows into box gutters or designing box gutters with a full with discharge through the parapet wall into rainwater head is the best ‘bank for bucks’ – if you have a overflow problem.
If the box gutter is locally rusty and need replacement, then it pays to find out why it has rusted prematurely and have these factors eliminated with the new box gutter.
If you are in Sydney, do your research about how to find good roof repairers in Sydney and find a trained roofing professional
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