Stupid rain stupid leaking in to a stupid lean-to

[jpjeffery]

Hi

(This topic could just as easily go in to the 'Plastering and Rendering' room, as there are some cracks in the wall rendering, but there's significant overlap so I mentally tossed a coin)

We have a lean-to (it was here when we bought the house 18 years ago). It's always been a little leaky here and there but recently, with all this heavy rain, it's been more leaky than usual.

Partly this depends on the roof gutter above. Currently it's overflowing a lot suggesting it needs cleaning out but it seems to me that even if I do hire a ladder and get up there and clean it out the roof of the lean-to underneath will still need some work.

I took a couple of videos this afternoon to show what's going on and get your thoughts (I don't know enough of the right words and phrases to adequately describe the scenario), is it possible to upload them here or should I YouTube them?

JP

 

[jpjeffery]

Here are the videos on YouTube:

The outside:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkKTXxgmvGY

The inside:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6tnNZlN9Xg

 

[foxhole]

Not quite clear enough but leak may be from a faulty joint on the guttering, will need replacing if it's not simply a blockage.

 

[^woody^]

It looks to me, that the gutter has either joint problems, or in the place above the window, the rain may not be going into the gutter and is running down the wall instead (ie felt or tile problem). So may not just be a blockage

The flashing to the plastic roof is poor or non-existent. Its hard to see. It also looks like flashband. The flashing around the soil pipe is crap too

Also, that big crack in the render is also potentially letting water in as its directly under the leaking gutter

 

[jpjeffery]

The flashing around the soil pipe is crap too

That pipe used to have a concrete boot/shoe around it but that gradually got washed away after it cracked.

 

[jpjeffery]

So, it seems to me, bearing in mind lack of funds I need to:

• 1 - Clean out the guttering
  2 - Repair any cracks in the guttering with that sticky black goo in a tube
  3 - Repair that crack in the rendering (same black goo in the tube?)
  4 - Repair the flashing around the soil pipe (yet more black goo? Will it also need a new shoe?)
  5 - Fix the crack in the down pipe (guess what - the black goo, which I've used on that pipe before)

 

[JohnD]

replace faulty guttering and downpipe

add proper lead flashing

throw away your sticky goo.

 

[scottishslater]

Render straight on to the plastic lean to is defo going to leak. To do it right id take off all the render which looks shot id put a lead flashing against the wall down onto the flat roof wield in slate pieces round the pipes put a bellcast over the new lead remove the gutter and replace and re- render

 

[jpjeffery]

Thanks all.

Just to clarify, as it's not clear from the video, the render does 'skirt outwards' from the wall and over the plastic roof. So, the plastic roof where it meets the house is UNDER the render. It seems to properly direct the water away from where the lean-to roof meets the wall. The leaking, I think, is only happening where A) there's no significant protection for the soil pipe flashing and B) where the water is getting IN to the rendering because of that crack.

I doubt this will change any of the answers I've had so far, but thought I should mention it.

 

[Mw Roofline]

Just chaNGE the guttering that will sort 90% of your problems out then tackle the rest another day.

 

[jpjeffery]

Well, I finally got my brother up the ladder to have a look at the gutter ("finally" sounds harsh, after all, he does help me a lot and does have a working life of his own!)

He found that the gutter is NOT cracked or damaged but that it was just caked up with the gritty/sandy substance that covers the roof tiles and moss. He cleared and flushed it out and since then not a drop of water has entered the lean-to/extension.

So, the main bulk of the problem was being caused by rain water flowing out sideways from the gutter, straight down the wall and in to the crack in the rendering.

Now, prior to more permanent remedial work in the summer, he wants to fill the crack (and an old pipe hole) with some canned-foam to prevent any more water getting in on the grounds that in a hard frost it would freeze and cause more cracking. My only concern with that is that it would then trap in the existing damp but he thinks that would dry out anyway.

What are your thoughts, folks?

Happy new year!

 

[JohnD]

preferable to fill with sand and cement.

 

[jpjeffery]

Agreed, but that's the long term solution for the summertime...

 

[JohnD]

how will you get the foam out when (if) you get round to it?

 

[craig melvin]

foam is ugly

What about a clear specialist silicons - the ones that can be used in damp conditions etc...

Ive done something similar on my own garage wall and worked a treat !

regards

Craig