Gutters take the rain from your roof and channel it away from your walls and the timbers set into the walls that are prone to rot if they are damp – lintels, joists and rafters. As our winters get wetter, it is very important that your gutters function properly. Cleaning will prevent overflows and regular maintenance will prevent leaks. Gutter repairs are almost always common repairs.
What to look out for
Typical signs of gutter problems. Damp stains under moulded gutter.
Keep a regular eye on the gutters looking particularly for damp and stains underneath as these can be the first sign of leaks and overflows. Cracks in lintels underneath are sometimes the result of rot problems inside.
Quick action can prevent further damage to your decorations and the structure of your building.
Cleaning gutters
Plant growth in gutters. Required cleaning some years ago. Plants like this will likely mean the gutter is blocked, so water is likely overflowing the gutter.
Leaves and roof debris clog gutters. Clean your gutters every year, if there are trees nearby in spring and autumn. Cleaning once every two years may be possible depending on the gutter. Plants growing in gutters are a sure sign of problems.
Consider fitting a leaf guard over the outlet to the downpipe to help prevent blockages in the pipe but keep the guards themselves clean. Leafguards at outlets can also cause blockages as leaves will often collect around the wire cage and cause a blockage.
Dealing with climate change
As our winters get ever wetter with more frequent rain storms, gutter maintenance becomes even more critical. If you are replacing your gutters, increase their size so they can cope with more rain and add an undercloak to protect against rainstorms.
Types of gutter
Moulded front gutter
Cast iron gutters and the bolts that fix the joints in sections can rust and corrode. Hard to check from ground level.
Moulded gutter. Seen from below – note lead undercloak.
Half-round gutter
These are normally made of cast iron. If they rust, they leak so paint them every five years – inside and out. Look out for corrosion problems at the joints between gutter lengths too.
Half-round gutter. Note how fixings have come away, the undercloak is decayed and the stonework is now damp.
Half-round gutter in need of painting. Don’t forget to paint the insides of gutters.
Stone gutter
Sometimes called eaves gutters, these are simply a channel in a top cornice stone. The channel would be lined with lead or asphalt. As these gutters are hidden, leaks can go undetected until it’s too late. These gutters are often too shallow to cope with rainstorms.
Parapet gutter
Parapets have a gutter hidden behind them, normally made of lead. Any blockage can lead to problems, particularly in rainstorms. They should have a secondary safety overflow outlet. They are most likely to block at the connection with the drainpipe. The drain may be an internal pipe.
Parapet with gutter behind. Blockages may only be seen from roof level.
Listed buildings and conservation areas
If your building is listed or in a conservation area, you may need consent to replace your gutters with those made of an alternative materials.
Who pays?
Gutter repairs are almost always common repairs.  Replacing gutters with those of a higher specification to cope with climate change is an incidental improvement and therefore maintenance so does not need 100% agreement of owners.
