Gutter cleaning service
The cheapest thing you can do for a house is keep the water going where it was meant to go.
What a gutter clean actually involves
Clearing the gutter is the start, not the job. A proper clean should include:
- Removing leaves, moss, silt and anything else from the full length of every run
- Clearing each outlet and checking that water actually runs away down the pipe
- Checking the downpipes are flowing, not just the gutter above them
- Looking at the joints, brackets and fall while up there, and telling you what was seen
- Taking the debris away rather than leaving it on the lawn or in the flower bed
When gutters need cleaning
Twice a year is the usual rule — late autumn once the leaves are down, and spring. Sooner if:
- There are trees over or near the roof
- The roof is mossy
- Water comes over the edge in heavy rain
- Plants are growing in the gutter
- There is a green streak on the wall
- The downpipe gurgles or overflows at the top
A gutter that is cleaned before it overflows costs a clean. One that overflows for a winter costs a wall.
Questions about gutter cleaning
What is the best time of year to have gutters cleaned?
Late autumn, once the leaves are down, so the gutters go into winter clear. Spring is the second visit on a house that needs two, to shift what winter storms and moss have put in. Any time is the right time if water is already coming over the edge.
Can I clean them myself?
From a ladder, with care, on a single-storey run, many people do. The risk is the ladder, not the gutter: falls from ladders are the commonest serious injury around the home. Anything above a bungalow, anything over a conservatory, and anything you are not sure about is worth paying someone to do.
Do gutter guards stop gutters blocking?
They stop leaves getting in. They do not stop moss, silt and pine needles, which pass through or sit on top, and a guard that has clogged on top is harder to clear than a gutter. On a house under broadleaf trees they can help; on a mossy roof they often make things worse.
Why do my gutters fill up so quickly?
Look at the roof. A mossy roof feeds its gutters with moss every time it rains. Trees overhanging the roof do the same with leaves. Cleaning the gutter clears the symptom; removing the moss or cutting back the tree slows the cause.
Other services
PVC gutter repairs — full or part replacements
Repairing PVC guttering where it can be repaired, and replacing a joint, a run or the whole lot where it cannot.
Gutter leak & downpipe repairs
Dripping joints, split or blocked downpipes, loose brackets, and the damp patch on the wall underneath.
Roof repairs
Slipped, cracked and missing tiles, ridge and verge pointing, flashing and the leaks they let in.
Moss removal
Taking moss off the roof before it blocks the gutters, holds water against the tiles and lifts them.
Free inspections & quotes
A free look at the roof and gutters, what was found explained, and a quote before any work is agreed.