Project
Gutter inspection and remedial works on an Edinburgh tenement
Tenement gutter repairs following a full inspection of the gutters and downpipes on an Edinburgh building: two blocked downpipe stacks replaced in cast iron, and all rainwater goods treated and repainted. Carried out by rope access over five days.
- Tenement
- Cast iron
- Rope access
- 5 days on site
Project summary
The client instructed an inspection of the gutters and downpipes across the whole building. Two main downpipe stacks were found to be cracked and blocked, and the paint system on the remaining rainwater goods had failed, leaving the cast iron corroded.
Both stacks were replaced in new cast iron to match the existing. All gutters and downpipes were then treated and repainted to the client’s specification.
All work was carried out by rope access, with no scaffolding required, which is often the largest single saving on tenement gutter repairs. The client received before and after photographs and completion documentation.
- Location
- Edinburgh
- Property
- Tenement
- Scope
- Full building gutter and downpipe inspection and remedial works
- Replacement
- Two main downpipe stacks in cast iron
- Painting
- All gutters and downpipes treated and painted to client specification
- Access
- Rope access
- On site
- 5 days
- Guarantee
- Workmanship guarantee as stated on the quote
How the tenement gutter repairs were carried out
Inspection
Gutters and downpipes inspected across the whole building and defects recorded.
Replacement
Two blocked main stacks removed and replaced in cast iron, fixed and jointed.
Treatment and painting
All gutters and downpipes treated and repainted to the client’s specification.
Handover
System checked for clear flow, with before and after photographs and completion documentation provided.
Before and after
On the ropes
Result
- Full inspection of the building’s gutters and downpipes
- Two main downpipe stacks replaced in cast iron
- All gutters and downpipes treated and painted to specification
- Completed in five days by rope access, with no scaffolding
Why cast iron downpipes fail on tenements
Cast iron rainwater goods on Edinburgh tenements can last a very long time, but only if the paint is kept up and the pipes are kept clear. Once the paint fails the iron rusts, most of all at joints, sockets and the back of the pipe against the wall, where it is hardest to see from the ground.
Blockages make it worse. Water and debris sitting in a stack hold moisture against the iron, and in winter can freeze and crack it. A split stack then spills water down the face of the building, saturating the stonework and finding its way inside.
It usually makes sense to carry out tenement gutter repairs together: replace failed lengths in cast iron, clear the system, then prepare and paint everything in one visit, so the whole building is protected rather than one pipe at a time.
Historic Environment Scotland publishes guidance on maintaining traditional buildings, including gutters and downpipes. If your building has rusted or leaking downpipes, an inspection is the first step before any tenement gutter repairs are priced.
Related services
Gutter replacement
Cast iron and uPVC gutters and downpipes replaced, by rope access where it suits.
Gutter repairs
Leaking joints, cracked sections and blocked outlets repaired, and cast iron repainted.
Rusted or leaking downpipes?
Send us a photo of the building and we will advise whether the pipework can be refurbished or needs replacing, with a written quote.