Signs Your Gutters Need Attention

Gutters do an important job quietly, so problems often go unnoticed until damp appears inside. Knowing the warning signs lets you deal with them while they are still cheap to fix. This guide covers what to look for on homes around Stratford-upon-Avon and south Warwickshire.

The warning signs

• Water overflowing the gutter in rain — usually a blockage; needs clearing
• Green or stained walls beneath the gutter — water is running down the wall
• Water dripping behind the gutter — a leaking joint or the gutter has pulled away
• Gutter sagging or holding water — loose brackets or the wrong fall
• Plants growing in the gutter — long-standing blockage and trapped soil
• Damp patches inside near the top of a wall — often traced to a gutter above
• Cracked or brittle plastic — the gutter is nearing the end of its life

What the signs mean

Most of these point to one of three fixes. Overflows and plant growth mean a clean. Leaks, sagging and poor falls on sound gutters mean a repair. Cracked, brittle plastic and rotten fascias mean replacement. The earlier you act, the more likely it is the cheap option.

Why not to leave it

The real cost of neglected gutters is not the gutter — it is the damp, stained walls and rotten timber that follow when water runs down the building. Stratford-upon-Avon's historic core has a wealth of timber-framed, Georgian and Victorian property, much of it in conservation areas and close to the Avon. On timber-framed and period buildings, water tracking down a wall from a failing gutter is especially damaging and costly to put right. A clean or small repair now is a fraction of the cost later.

Local factors

Mature trees along the riverside streets fill gutters with leaves, and access on the town's older, tighter buildings can be a factor — so regular clearing and prompt, sympathetic repair matter here. A check once or twice a year keeps water off walls that are expensive to repair.

Request a free assessment and the contractor will tell you honestly whether you need a clean, a repair or replacement.