Internal guttering in lofts

[ElectronicFur]

Yes you read that right, by design we have rain water running through two of our loft spaces in an internal open gutter.

Due to roof valleys and sky light, there are two enclosed areas on the roof which cannot drain conventionally to the external gutters. So the first valley area drains from the valley floor into a drain through the roof, which flows into an open gutter within the first loft space. This gutter then runs along the loft, turns 90 degrees, then runs under the roof,and an opening in the roof where the next valley flows into the gutter, and then the gutter carries on running into the next loft space, and out through the roof at the side of the house above the soffit and into a hopper, which is shared with the conventional gutter.

Has anyone seen such an arrangement before?

Not sure having water running through an open gutter within the loft spaces is a good idea, but at least it makes it possible to clear leaves out of it.

In addition to a proper skylight in the main stairwell, we also have an odd skylight on a landing, which is just a window in the ceiling, which actually opens and doubles as access to that particular loft space. Above it, but not directly is another window in the roof. So some light filters through. Never seen that arrangement before either.

 

[livias]

I am about to start work on a grade 11 listed shop which has an open gutter (georgian or victorian) in the loft arrangement that has gone horribly wrong due to blocked gutter water overflow and ignore situation

Chippies are now sorting out the rotten timber. i have not seen the architects drawings or recent work but i do know that the plan is to replace the open gutter with a closed one

 

[Feltwell]

An internal gutter is not a great idea at all, but if there is no other way to dispose of the water, what other alternative is there? I have seen it before but it's quite rare I think. Clearly keeping on top of making sure nothing blocks the gutter is paramount!

I am about to start work on a grade 11 listed shop which has an open gutter (georgian or victorian) in the loft arrangement that has gone horribly wrong due to blocked gutter water overflow and ignore situation

Chippies are now sorting out the rotten timber. i have not seen the architects drawings or recent work but i do know that the plan is to replace the open gutter with a closed one

Obviously not seen it and there may be a good reason, but my instinct would be that I'd rather have an open gutter - a hidden blockage that is difficult to get at being much worse than an obvious one that can be easily dealt with. I suppose the only exception would be if you can make it such that any blockage would cause water to back up and overspill externally rather than internally.

 

[Cubist]

Fascinating, I've never seen that kind of arrangement before. But then again I have seldom stopped to consider the ramifications of the architecture of a complex roof. The gutters look to be quite large and the material they're made from is not clear but I would guess metal of some sort? I was wondering also how the builder made sure the fall from the catchment points to final outlet is maintained to avoid standing water. I think I would be up there with torch to monitor water volume and flow rate during the next heavy storm. :shock:

 

[malcolm]

I too would prefer closed pipes in an inside space having suffered a flood from above myself. My flood was due to a lack of overflow from a cold water tank which took a couple of rooms out of action for 2 years and counting which was annoying and not in the plan. Access plates on the corners would enable rodding should the pipe become blocked.

 

[ElectronicFur]

Yes upon seeing it I thought why not replace it with a closed pipe, but then started thinking that a hidden blockage could be worse, as Feltwel points out.

When it rains hard a very large volume of water flows though the gutter. It is made of metal, and doesnt collect standing water, so it appears the fall has been well designed.

 

[Kearn]

I've seen something worse, I'll try to reminder to add a picture so I don't sound like I've gone insane. Our neighbours have guttering to meet a downpipe, which has actually been routed through a chimney stack :roll:
It makes no sense and would've been more effort than avoidance as there are no real physical limitations. It's amazing what lengths some people will go to, to be lazy!

In your circumstance, open does sounds wise, but maybe a cheap camera or some other sensor so you're warned of an impending/actual issue, as I can't imagine monitoring regularly by eye.
I would also be inclined to round the bend into a curve, so water isn't hitting a 90degree corner at speed to minimise any splashing/overspill when the flow is high, especially if there is a reasonable drop on the run.

 

[Westholme]

Some lead flashing could be added at the corner to increase the effective gutter depth and prevent overspill.

 

[Edward Ian]

In addition to a proper skylight in the main stairwell, we also have an odd skylight on a landing, which is just a window in the ceiling, which actually opens and doubles as access to that particular loft space. Above it, but not directly is another window in the roof. So some light filters through. Never seen that arrangement before either.

I have the same thing, except when some bright spark decided to replace the slate roof with tiles, they didn't replace the skylight in the roof.