Rainwater goods
Guttering, and the timber it is fixed to
Gutters and fascias fail together, because a leaking gutter soaks the board it is screwed to. Replacing one without looking at the other is how the same job gets done twice.
What we do
- Gutter replacement
- UPVC, aluminium or cast iron, sized and laid to the correct fall so water reaches the outlet.
- Repairs and realignment
- Sagging runs, failed joints and brackets that have pulled out of soft timber.
- Fascias and soffits
- Renewal in timber or UPVC, with the eaves ventilation kept clear rather than boarded over.
- Downpipes and gullies
- Including where a pipe discharges onto a flat roof or into a gully that no longer takes it.
- Cast iron
- Repair and replacement where the original rainwater goods matter to the building, which on many London elevations they do.
- Clearing
- Gutters, hopper heads and outlets cleared, with the debris taken away rather than dropped in the garden.
Why an overflowing gutter is not a small problem
Water running down a wall for one winter is a stain. Water running down a wall for five is saturated brickwork, blown render, damp inside the room behind it, and rot in the wall plate and rafter feet.
The rafter feet and the wall plate are the expensive part. They sit directly under the gutter, they stay wet, and repairing them means opening up the eaves. A gutter clear costs very little by comparison, and doing it once or twice a year is the single most cost-effective piece of roof maintenance there is.
Ventilation is worth mentioning too: eaves boarded up without vents cause condensation in the loft, which then gets blamed on the roof.
Guttering questions
How often should gutters be cleared?
Once a year for most properties, twice where there are trees nearby — ideally in late autumn once the leaves are down, and again in spring. Anything with a valley or a hidden gutter behind a parapet is worth checking more often, because those block first and show it last.
Should I replace cast iron gutters with plastic?
It is cheaper, and on a rear elevation it is often a sensible decision. On a period front elevation cast iron is part of the building’s appearance, and in a conservation area replacing it may not be permitted. Cast iron can be repaired and repainted, and aluminium is a middle option that looks similar and weighs far less.
Not sure what your roof needs?
An inspection ends with a written report and photographs, whether or not you go ahead with the work.
Inspection fee: £99.00.