Most of us don’t think about the gutters in our homes unless there is a problem. Which is usually while it’s pouring with rain outside! By the time the rain storm is over, we have often forgotten about them again. It’s easy to forget, or not appreciate, just how important guttering is for our homes though until that problem grows and ends up costing us a lot of money to put right. Before the winter season truly sets in, we take a look at how guttering keeps our home safe and what quick maintenance checks we can do regularly to keep on top of any problems before they escalate.
What does guttering do?
Guttering surrounds our homes, and is found at the point where the roof meets the top of the building’s walls. At various intervals, it will connect to pipework that comes all the way down to the ground. This is usually found at corners, but for larger buildings can also be found along the walls as well. The purpose of gutters is to channel water away from the roof so that it doesn’t get into your attic or wall cavities, or make its way down the walls leading to staining on your exterior brickwork or plasterwork. At ground level it will be channelled into the draining system to avoid pooling around foundations which can lead to ground movement, damp problems, cracking, and flooding in your home.
Making sure you are fully protected
While many homes have guttering, you want to make sure that it is not only properly installed, but that it is doing what it should as well. To do that, take a walk around your property and, if safe to do, use a ladder to inspect the guttering higher up. What you are looking for is:
- Gutters that are properly secured to the fascia. This will ensure that no water is going anywhere other than into the gutter and isn’t going into the roof cavity or down the outside of your walls.
- It is angled so that it channels water away rather than creating standing pools of water in the gutter.
- Has well-secured connections to the piping that leads water away from the building and down to the ground.
- That downspouts end up in the drain at ground level. Also check that this is protected with a drain guard to avoid leaves and other debris from entering it and leading to blockages.
Gutter maintenance
Regular gutter maintenance is crucial to keeping them clear of debris, repairing any cracks or holes which may appear over time, and reducing your risk of flooding, mould, and mildew build up. Standing water can also attract mosquitoes in the warmer months while holes from detached guttering from the fascia can lead to vermin entering your roof void and making their home there in the colder months.
For a full gutter check, repair, or maintenance service all you need to do is get in touch with us at Roof Rescue. Just give us a call on 020 3189 1618 to make an appointment or for an informal chat.
