WINTERS COMING NOW IS THE TIME TO HAVE YOUR GUTTERS CLEARED
Why have your gutters cleared?
It is recommended by the Building Research Establishment that gutters are inspected/cleared at least once a year. Ignoring a problem will only result in it getting worse (it won't repair itself!) and possibly causing serious damage to the property.
We can also clean fascias, soffits and gutters so that they come up like new in most cases. This is very popular with those of you that have white gutters as this shows up the dirt much more than other colours.
What causes a blocked gutter?
Every year leaves, moss, lichen, gravel from flat roofs, dead birds, old tennis balls, bird droppings, and what can only be described as "stinky sludge" gets washed off the roof into our gutters. This can build up at an alarming rate and can cause damage to the guttering itself or to your property. Many of our customers have been amazed at what we've found in their gutters when we have carried out clearances, some examples of which are shown below:
Damage caused by blocked or sagging gutters.
Facias/eves
Trapped water in a gutter gets blown by the wind onto fascia boards creating a continuous wet/dry cycle. This can cause wood rot and/or peeling paint, ultimately requiring complete replacement of the whole system if left unchecked. In extreme cases the rot can penetrate the eves, causing even more serious and expensive damage.
Brickwork/Pointing
A blocked gutter that overflows when it rains results in water pouring down the wall. This is precisely what gutters are designed to protect against, and can cause damage to brickwork and pointing, penetrating damp and damage to wall ties. Moss can also grow on the wet walls adding to the problem by retaining water and not letting the walls dry out at all as seen in the example below:
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