Guttering is a crucial and integral part of the structure of any roof, and as such it is very important to ensure that it is kept in a clean and functional condition. There are various types of gutters on the market, from traditional cast iron to modern and sleek-looking PVC systems, but essentially they all serve the same core purpose – guttering is used to catch the rainwater that falls from a roof, and divert it into a soakaway or drainage system.
Why are gutters so important?
Without gutters, the fabric of the building in the UK climate would soon be affected by water ingress, both at the roof and ground levels. At roof level, capillary action would draw water into the roof timbers, degrading their strength and quickly undermining the roof structure. At ground level the foundations of the house would become saturated, creating a potential for land heave and possible subsidence. Pooling water could also lead to water bridging the damp proof course membrane, causing damage to the internal finishes of the house. It is therefore essential to ensure that gutters are kept clear from blockages at all times. To keep your gutters clean contract Brinkmann Roofing.
What are the main causes of gutters becoming blocked?
Most blocked gutters are caused by fallen leaves, moss, twigs and dirt washed down from the roof covering. Whilst it is impossible to prevent nature from creating these conditions, we can at least take preventive actions to minimise their disruptions. The simplest way is to fit a leaf guard into the outlet of the gutter, where it joins the downpipe. This simple, inexpensive fitting stops pipes from becoming blocked by catching the leaves and moss before they are swept into the pipe. All that is required to maintain this fitting is the removal of leaves from around the guard a couple of times a year.
How to prevent your gutters from becoming blocked?
A more comprehensive solution is the fitting of a mesh system or one of the new generation of gutter brushes. Both of these products work in a more proactive way by actually stopping leaves and dirt from being washed into the gutters in the first place. Mesh systems clip on the top of the gutters, whilst gutter brushes are long lengths of nylon bristles fixed to a central wire that actually fits inside the gutter profile, filling the void whilst still allowing water to flow through the system. Either of these solutions is a very effective way of keeping guttering free from debris.
Finally, to keep gutters looking as good as new, washing them down a couple of times a year with a damp cloth and either soapy water or a proprietary PVC cleaner is recommended. Regularly maintained, they will add a touch of class to your eaves!
Find out more tips and systems to help maintain your gutters in perfect condition at www.guttersupplies.co.uk. If you found ‘Why Maintain Your Guttering’ useful, please share it on your social networking sites. Thank you.
Good post Anne, gutters and guttering are one those jobs either no one thinks about or do once every few years which just isn’t enough. You can get some good guttering installed which will bring the need for maintenance down, but how many people pay attention to guttering until there’s something wrong with it? The more education the better in this area, good article.
i like this. Thank you for much..
This is a very compelling article. Failing to keep gutters clean and in good working order can have dramatic effects on the exterior integrity of a persons home. The paint itself is one of the things that suffers most often, and can lead to wood rot and insulation damage.
Thanks for such a concise and easy to understand article!
Maintaining your gutters is a very important part of proper roof maintenance for your home. Not taking proper care of your gutter can result in a number of potential issues such as water damage and other roof issues. Get your gutters cleaned once per year to keep everything in working order.
Thanks Anne for your good post.
I would like to share an idea which we’ve recently started implementing in our residential and commercial building construction projects. In this system we collect rain water from roof and store in a water tank located on ground floor. And then we purify them by a water treatment plant which we setup during construction.
It’s a splendid idea and a great way to conserve on water.
• In the 10 years we have lived here, we have never had our gutters cleaned. Why do them once a year?
Gutter maintenance is important if you want them to stay in good shape. If your gutters are full of leaves, moss etc, this will erode them. Soon this will encourage leakage onto the wall of your property and affect your eaves and even the wall of the house. 10 years is a very long time not to get this important job done. I suggest getting someone in to do it (or you can do it yourself if you have a long-enough ladder.
You will have to keep an eye on your house guttering, if you don’t want your house to start getting damages. Clogged gutters are the beginning symptoms of all problems. They extend their reach from walls and roofs to even the floor of your house, you can’t afford to ignore them.
Yes, Harry. Clogged gutters pose a problem for the entire structure. We bought a house that had leaking gutters and the bricks in the driveway below had caved in because of the constant rainfall they were subject to from above.
I agree Anne, blocked gutters are a common scene in all houses. And yes it is true that when they are not given much attention, they tend to harm the decoration and longevity of the house. Gutters need to be maintained at all times.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving your comment, Jack. I agree.