What guttering work involves
Gutters and downpipes have one job: catching the water that runs off your roof and taking it safely to the drains. When they block, sag or leak, that water ends up running down the walls instead, which can lead to damp inside, stained brickwork and rotten timber.
Guttering work can mean clearing out blocked gutters and downpipes, re-aligning runs that have dropped so they fall correctly towards the outlets, resealing leaking joints and replacing broken brackets. Where old cast iron or brittle plastic guttering has had its day, it can be replaced with a new UPVC system, often at the same time as new fascias and soffits.
Signs your gutters need attention
- Water spilling over the edge of the gutter when it rains
- Drips or leaks from joints and corners
- Green or dark streaks and damp patches on the outside walls
- Plants or moss growing out of the gutters
- A gutter that visibly sags or has pulled away from the fascia
- Puddles or splashback at the foot of the wall below
How Ben approaches it
Guttering problems are usually straightforward, and they are worth sorting before the water causes bigger trouble. Ben will check why the gutter is failing: a blockage, a lost fall, a cracked section or rotten fascia boards behind it. Then he will explain the simplest fix.
A quick photo of the problem sent on WhatsApp is often enough to get things moving. If the fascia boards are rotten, it makes sense to deal with them at the same time rather than hanging new gutters on failing timber. Where gutters are blocked by moss or debris from the roof itself, Ben can check the tiles while he is up there. See tiling repairs.