Resources
March 2008
Welcome to March's Faith in Maintenance monthly email bulletin. Every month we will be sending you a short reminder of some of the things that you might do to make sure that your place of worship is in tiptop condition.
Things
to do in March:
As we have had some very cold weather recently it is worth checking that gutters and downpipes have not been damaged by frost. If gutters or downpipes are blocked, water can easily become trapped and will expand as it freezes. The expansion of trapped water is sufficient to cause cast iron to crack or shatter allowing water to saturate the wall. Look for any signs of splits or cracks and have any broken sections replaced as soon as possible. As you go around your building you may also notice signs of corrosion.
These can usually be attributed to infrequent painting or painting that misses the inaccessible areas at the back of downpipes and hoppers. Such corrosion can go unnoticed for some time as it is difficult to spot, so it can be a good idea to use a small hand mirror to examine the backs of your downpipes from time to time.
Although it is usually better to repair than to replace, cast iron can be difficult to repair successfully as welding is problematic and the integrity of such repairs cannot always be guaranteed.
If you have to replace sections of cast iron rainwater goods make sure that they match the original in terms of size and appearance as undersized replacement gutters and downpipes can lead to overflows and leaks. Plain or simple castings can often be obtained from a local builders' merchant whilst ornamental or unusual castings can be sourced from the small number of foundries still specialising in traditional casting techniques.
Consider fixing new downpipes with a gap between them and the wall to facilitate repainting the rear faces. This will also allow any leaking water to run down the back of the pipe rather than down the wall in the future.
Even though it might be tempting to replace cast iron rainwater goods with extruded aluminium, mild steel or plastic sections for economic reasons this is not advisable as such materials detract from the traditional character of the building.
Whilst the alternatives are
cheaper to purchase and install, any saving will be cancelled out by the need to
replace them when they reach the end of their relatively short life span (compared
to cast iron). Mixing and matching
different metals can also cause problems as one metal will cause the other to
corrode at an accelerated rate.
The best way to look after cast iron rainwater goods is to make sure that you keep them in good condition with frequent repainting. Expect to repaint once every five years although they may need more frequent attention in coastal or exposed areas. Your architect or building surveyor will be able to prepare a detailed specification and can advise on suitable local contractors.
If you would like to know more about looking after your rainwater goods, you might find the following publications useful:
- Christopher Brereton (1995) The Repair of Historic Buildings: Advice on Principles and Methods.
- British Research Establishment (1997) Good Repair Guide 9: Repairing and Replacing Rainwater Goods.
- Technical Advice Q&A Number 4 - Rainwater Disposal. This is available here.
If you have any questions about issues related to maintenance
and repair you can contact David John,
our Technical Advisor, on the Faith in
Maintenance Technical Advice Line.
This service is normally available on Fridays from 10am until 4pm
on 0207 456 0916. Information about other courses run by the
SPAB can be found here. You can also visit our online bookshop,
which sells the SPAB's range of Technical Pamphlets and Information Sheets.
We hope that you have found this email bulletin useful. If you have any comments or suggestions on how we may improve this service please do get in touch with us using bulletin@spabfim.org.uk.
Sara Crofts Faith in Maintenance Project Director
Stave off decay by daily care ~ William Morris 1877
