Month: September 2023

Is Your Conservatory Skylight Leaking And How To Fix It?

As the seasons change, drizzly autumnal weather will become more of the norm, which means if you didn’t know you had a leaky conservatory skylight, you soon will. 

Rainy weather 

Stronger downpours will become more common as the weather turns colder, and it might not be long before we experience snowfall. 

This means you might start to see drips on the floor underneath a skylight that is not properly sealed or has warped materials if it has been a few years since it was fitted. 

Alternatively, there might be a crack in the glass, which is letting in water from outside through to the house. 

Leaking when clear outside

However, some homeowners might discover their skylight is still leaking when the weather is clear. 

In this case, the problem is not to do with rain coming in through a crack in the glass or weakened seals, but because of condensation. 

Your skylight can suffer from condensation if the temperature inside the house contrasts greatly with the conditions outside. 

For instance, if you have your heating on high and warm air hits the glass surface, which is cold due to the autumnal or wintry weather, this can cause condensation. 

Skylights are particularly prone to this because hot air rises to the ceiling, which is where they are fitted.

What to do if there is leaking

The first thing to do if you experience dripping from your skylight is to determine whether it is due to leaks or condensation, as this will inform what steps you take next.

• How to fix leaks

If there is a leak in the window, it is sensible to call in repair specialists to determine how they can fix the problem. 

They might have to replace the flashing, which is metal that is installed to prevent water from roofs seeping into the house. Or you might find the flashing simply needs resealing or reinstalling if it is not positioned as tightly or accurately as it should be. 

Alternatively, the weather seals might need to be replaced if they have deteriorated or peeled away. 

It might also be caused by blocked drainage channels, leading to water building up on the window, resulting in it seeping into the conservatory below. 

If repairs cannot be made to the skylight, such as if there are large cracks, it may need to be replaced entirely. 

• How to fix condensation problems

If, however, you find the problem is related to condensation, it could be enough to improve insulation in the property. 

This will prevent warm air from travelling to the ceiling as easily, as it will remain trapped within the house. Consequently, the air touching the cold glass will not be as hot and cause condensation to occur. 

It is also a good idea to improve ventilation in the room, either by opening windows or removing obstructions from weep holes, which is where condensation is allowed to drain. 

Once you have determined what the problem with the skylight is, you will be able to resolve it easily, enabling you to have a warm, dry conservatory in time for the colder months.

3 Common Issues With Boxed Gutters

Conservatory design can be relatively complex depending on the nature of the existing property and what requirements are necessary in order to ensure that the extension can be installed successfully.

If, for example, the roof of the conservatory will be sloping backwards towards the host wall, then a box gutter will be necessary. This type of gutter collects the water that runs off the conservatory roof and stops it from splashing back onto the wall of the house. 

They can also be used in other instances, such as in bungalows, to carry the water away from both the roof of the house and that of the conservatory.

The gutters themselves come with boxed sides (hence the name) and a flat square base and, as is the case with all other types of guttering system, the aim is to prevent rain from penetrating through the doors and windows, which over time will impact the foundations of the property.

What problems are likely to arise with box gutters?

As with anything, issues with box gutter installations can raise their heads from time to time but these don’t have to be insurmountable and as long as they’re swiftly addressed as part of any regular home maintenance work, long-term or more complicated problems should not develop.

Something that you may encounter with this kind of guttering system is leakage. Leaks can appear at any point across the system, but keep a particularly close eye on the section that leads to the downspout of the roof. If leaks go unchecked here, you may find that metal corrosion starts to take place, especially in the areas that are holding water.

Also be aware that water spills can become problematic if you’re not careful. These occur when the drainage system gets blocked or if the drain isn’t strong enough to carry a certain volume of water. This then leads to overflow from the gutter itself.

Another common issue that homeowners often encounter is water running behind the box gutter. This can cause damage to the trim and make it easier for water to enter the actual property, usually the result of poor gutter design, so it’s important that you get on top of this at the design stage itself to protect your property and your investment.

Signs to look out for that indicate you may have an issue include water dripping through the trims (which can signal that you have a crack in the joints or that rust holes have developed), discolouration of the wood, trim or metal roofing, and water spots on the walls and ceilings of your home.

The right solution to your guttering issue will depend on what’s causing it, but note that some repairs aren’t effective, such as using grey liquid waterproofer, silicone or painting bitumen in the gutter. If you’d like to find out more about box gutter repairs that actually do work, get in touch with the Findons team today to see how we can help.