Gutter cleaning in Walthamstow

Walthamstow gutters have a lot to deal with. Leaves come down from Lloyd Park, the street trees and the edge of Epping Forest every autumn, and moss from older slate roofs washes into the gutters with every heavy shower. Once an outlet is blocked, rain has nowhere to go but over the edge, down the brickwork and into the wall.

A gutter clean clears the leaves, moss and silt from every run, unblocks the outlets and checks that each downpipe is flowing freely. While we're up there we look at the joints, the brackets and the fascia boards behind them, and tell you about anything that needs attention before it turns into a leak.

Most E17 houses need a clean once a year, best done in November or December when the trees are bare. Under big trees or near the park, add a second visit in spring.

Gutter repairs

Most gutter problems we see in Walthamstow come down to a handful of faults:

• Leaking joints, where the seals in older uPVC gutters have dried out and split.
• Sagging runs, where brackets have worked loose or snapped and water collects in the dip instead of draining.
• Gutters pulled away from the fascia by ladders, snow or years of overloading.
• Blocked or cracked downpipes, which send water pouring out at a corner or soaking the wall at ground level.
• Rotten fascia boards behind the gutter, which leave the brackets with nothing solid to hold on to.

A single failed joint or a couple of loose brackets is a quick repair. If the problems run along the whole length, replacing the run is usually the better spend.

uPVC guttering replacement

When gutters have gone brittle and faded, leak at several joints or simply can't cope with the size of the roof, it's time for new ones. We fit uPVC gutters and downpipes in the standard profiles, from half-round to square and deeper high-capacity gutters for bigger roofs, and in the usual colours, so new guttering blends in with the houses either side. Where the fascias and soffits behind have rotted, they're best replaced at the same time, while the gutter is off.

Signs your gutters need attention

• Water spilling over the edge when it rains.
• Damp patches or green staining on the wall below the gutter.
• Plants or moss growing out of the gutter.
• A gutter that sags or has pulled away from the wall.
• Drips from the joints, even in light rain.
• Water pooling at the foot of a downpipe or against the house.

Guttering questions from Walthamstow homeowners

Could my gutters be causing the damp inside?

Often, yes. On Victorian and Edwardian terraces, an overflowing or leaking gutter can soak the same patch of wall every time it rains, and the damp shows up inside weeks later. It's worth checking the gutter above a damp patch before paying for any damp treatment.

On a terrace, whose gutter is it?

Usually each house looks after the run along its own roof, but the gutters are joined, so a blockage next door can overflow on to yours. If both houses have problems, it often makes sense to talk to your neighbour and have the whole run done together.

Can new gutters match my neighbours'?

In most cases, yes. uPVC guttering comes in standard shapes and colours, so we can match the profile and colour already on the street.

How much does gutter cleaning or repair cost?

It depends on how much gutter there is, how high it is and how easy it is to reach. Call us with your address and what's wrong, and we'll sort out a price.

Do you only do guttering?

No. We're roofers as well, so if the gutter problem turns out to be a roof problem, such as a slipped slate or a leaking valley, we can deal with both, and our roof cleaning tackles the moss at its source. See our roofers in Walthamstow page.

Book your gutters in

For gutter cleaning, repairs or new uPVC guttering anywhere in Walthamstow E17, call 07577 851662 or use the form on our contact page.