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5 signs it's time to get your gutters replaced

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Zara, Staff Writer

Monday, 8 March 2021

Your gutter is one aspect of your property that's easy to forget about. After all, out of sight out of mind right? However, given gutters are responsible for draining water from your roof, and away from your foundations, you might just want to pay some closer attention to them. 

Sometimes gutter cleaning or some basic maintenance can fix any issues. That said, everything on your property has an eventual shelf life, and your gutters are no exception. Here are some of the top issues you need to look out for that could suggest your gutters need replacing. 

Leaking Gutters

Gutters are designed to carry water away down various channels until reaching the drain at the bottom. If that process is being disrupted then the gutters cannot perform properly. The real issue is where the leaking water is ending up since it can run directly into the side of your building. For homes made from brick, it can damage the mortar and even contribute to damp and mould inside of the property. So while rendering is a great step, if you don’t fix your guttering the problem will persist. 

Corrosion 

Depending on what your gutter is made from it may be starting to break down or even rust. Remember, gutters get the full onslaught of what your climate has to throw at it. Extreme temperatures can make the material expand and contract, which can cause it to fracture over time. There’s also a safety element to consider since if sections of your gutters are coming apart, they could cause injury to those below - especially if they are made from a heavy metal. 

Sagging gutters

The cause of sagging cutters is an accumulation of debris or a water blockage that has not been cleared in time. The sheer weight of the material has caused the gutter to sag since gutters are not designed to hold heavy loads. Unfortunately, getting your gutter cleaned will not fix the problem, as gutters are not like an elastic band that will ping back into shape. It’s also likely adjoining sectors will have been damaged as a result. 

Gutters pulling away from the roof

The position of your gutter is designed to be fixed, not flexible. Often, when gutters pull away from the roof it’s because the fascia boards underneath have rotted. Therefore, it’s not just a simple case of hammering the fasteners back in, since they’ll keep popping out again. It’s best not to leave your gutters out of position for too long, as this will create far worse problems in the long run.  

Improper pitching

One of the top reasons it’s important to hire a knowledgeable expert to install your guttering is because the pitch is everything. Similar to a roof pitch, a gutter pitch will ensure the water correctly drains away instead of stagnating or pooling in the middle. Gutters can only work properly if the angle encourages the water flow to continue down to the drain. 

To sum up

The average lifespan of guttering is between 20 and 70 years depending on what it's made from. If you have moved into a property with old guttering, or if it’s been decades since the gutters were installed, it’s probably time they were replaced. This is especially the case if any of the above signs ring true with your gutters.

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