The importance of good gutters

When was the last time you checked your gutters? If you don’t remember, then it’s vital you read on. Your gutters play a huge role in the structural integrity of your house, and keeping them clean and well-maintained is essential.

With Ireland’s wet, soggy weather, channelling rain water away from your home through guttering is necessary to stop your walls getting saturated, and any timber frames developing decay or infestations.

Worse, when the ground next to the house is allowed to become consistently wet and marshy it can eventually undermine shallow foundations. It is therefore important that homeowners know how to spot faults in guttering and downpipes.

If your gutters become clogged or broken, the results can be serious, not only for the structure of your home, but the resulting damp can cause health issues for you and your family.

So, how do you look after your gutters?

The most important thing to remember is clean gutters are far less susceptible to damage than blocked gutters. In fact, the two most common gutter related issues facing homeowners are blockages in the gutter itself, and blockages in the downpipes.

These blockages are often caused by debris like fallen leaves and moss. Leaks can be a more serious problem. You can tell if your gutter is blocked or leaking by going outside when it’s raining and watching them. If water is running down the side of your house, your gutters are probably blocked.

If your home is becoming damp, it’s likely your gutters are leaking. Leaks can occur when bits of debris get caught in the joints, or simply from general wear and tear. Look out for damp patches on walls or ceilings, but bear in mind that moisture can travel in unexpected directions so the cause may not be obvious.

Check for stains, discolouration and moss on walls, and plant growth in and around rainwater goods. Deterioration to masonry due to frost damage can be caused by the wall becoming saturated with water. Another issue with gutters is they can sag. Sagging gutters can happen when they are weighed down by debris and water, or when their screws become rusty or brackets faulty.

Frequent gutter cleaning can highlight these problems: You’ll easily be able to check how sturdy they are by examining the downpipe on the ground, and if anything feels a little loose you can take precautions before any real damage occurs.