The guttering on your home is probably something you never think about\u2026 that is until something goes wrong with it. But without due care and attention (as well as maintenance) the guttering around your property is susceptible to problems that could lead to serious issues down the line.<\/p>\n
In this article, we are going to explain the purpose of your guttering, the sort of problems it can experience, and how to fix them when they arise. Let\u2019s get started.<\/p>\n
A gutter is a narrow trough or channel that runs around the perimeter of the roof on a property. The purpose of the gutter is to collect rainwater and funnel it away into drains and sewers.<\/p>\n
Guttering is important because it takes excess water away from the foundations of a building as well as protecting exterior brickwork and preventing water from entering your home.<\/p>\n
Gutters consist of many parts that play a different role in water collection and diversion. These include:<\/p>\n
Guttersuplies.co.uk offer a handy guide on all the different parts of a gutter system here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Guttering comes in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials and the type you use will depend on several factors. Let\u2019s start by discussing the different materials and how this affects their use.<\/p>\n Steel guttering is incredibly sturdy and strong. It can also be quite low-maintenance so long as it is coated with rust-preventing compounds like zinc alloy. Steel guttering systems aren\u2019t cheap, however, and the entire system will need to be replaced at some point once rust takes hold. Best used in areas that experience bad weather or where excessive wear and tear is expected.<\/p>\n Aluminium guttering is a good alternative to steel as it is almost as strong and durable but is much lighter. Again, aluminium guttering can be expensive and will need replacing more often than plastic due to rust. Best used when you need a stronger guttering system due to weather or excessive wear and tear.<\/p>\n Most homes built after the 1970s will have a plastic or uPVC guttering system. Plastic gutters are incredibly cheap and while they are less sturdy than metal-based ones, they won\u2019t rust and if looked after will last a long time before requiring replacement. Best suited for homes that want a simple and easy to maintain guttering system but don\u2019t need the extra strength that metal provides.<\/p>\n Cast iron guttering is incredibly durable and can last for over 100 years if correctly installed and maintained. But cast iron isn\u2019t cheap and the extreme weight can be an issue for most properties. Best suited to homeowners looking for a bit of visual style and have the funds to splash out (and the right fixings to hold the weight).<\/p>\n Copper guttering, like other metal gutter types, is a great looking and hard-wearing option for many systems. Copper is incredibly durable but will, over time, discolour and eventually rust. Again, copper isn\u2019t cheap but provides a strong and moss resistant option for homeowners.<\/p>\n Guttering also comes in a variety of different shapes suitable for different purposes or different styles. Let\u2019s have a look at a few in detail:<\/p>\n Half-round guttering is the most popular guttering style in use. As the name suggests, half-round gutters consist of a half-cylinder where the open side is placed upwards to collect water. Half-round guttering is suitable for anyone looking for a simple and cheap solution.<\/p>\n Ogee gutters offer a more contemporary profile and employ a number of curves in its design. The name Ogee derives from the term \u201cold gothic\u201d which comes from the fact it was most popular in the Victorian era. As such the Ogee shape is best suited to period buildings<\/p>\n Deep gutters are simply designed to hold more water and best suited to areas with higher levels of rainfall or water runoff. They are generally half-round(ish) in shape but much deeper in profile.<\/p>\n Box gutters are square in shape when looking along the trough. Due to their contemporary shape, they are best suited to modern buildings or those looking for an angular profile. They also tend to hold more water than circular gutters so can be used in areas of high rainfall.<\/p>\n Gutters, like most parts of your house, can develop problems over time. Here are a few issues to be wary of:<\/p>\n Okay, this isn\u2019t technically a problem that your gutters will develop but it is a problem your house may have if your gutters aren\u2019t working properly. Gutters funnel water away from your home. Without them, rainwater will run down your property and into your foundations. Over time this can erode the soil from outside and underneath your property and the structural integrity of your home could be damaged.<\/p>\n Guttering can easily become blocked over time as things like leaves, birds nests, twigs, and branches fall into them. When gutters are blocked, rainwater will find another way to the ground. This is often down the side of your property which can lead to mortar damage, water leakage, and the aforementioned soil erosion around and underneath the property.<\/p>\n Gutters and the joints between them are prone to cracking, splitting, or separating over time. This can allow rainwater to seep through. This can then lead to mortar damage, water leakage into the property, or flooded foundations.<\/p>\n Guttering is generally held in place by hangers that attach to your property. The gutter trough will be attached to the fascia and the downspout directly to the outer wall. These can crack or split over time allowing guttering to \u2018peel\u2019 away from the building. If this happens rainwater will run down the outside of the property leading to any of the problems we\u2019ve listed above.<\/p>\n How you fix your gutter problem will depend on the nature of the issue. Blockages can usually be cleared by hand, so long as you have a long enough ladder to access the blocked area in the first place (please don\u2019t borrow a ladder and climb up two stories if you don\u2019t know what you\u2019re doing).<\/p>\n Cracks, splits, or gutters that have come away from the building may require a guttering expert to replace or fix the issue.<\/p>\n Finding a guttering specialist in Oxford is never easy but there are a few things you can do to make your search easier:<\/p>\n Like all household problems, gutter issues can seemingly happen overnight. But with a little help from this guide, hopefully you\u2019ll be well-armed to deal with problems head-on and have all the tools you need to find a reputable guttering specialist in Oxford.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The guttering on your home is probably something you never think about\u2026 that is until something […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":1119,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,8,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1109","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-domestic","category-expert-advice","category-questions-answered"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nSo, what are the different types of gutters: Material?<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n
Steel<\/em><\/h3>\n
Aluminium<\/em><\/h3>\n
Plastic <\/em><\/h3>\n
Cast iron<\/em><\/h3>\n
Copper<\/em><\/h3>\n
So, what are the different types of gutters: Shape?<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n
Half-round gutters<\/em><\/h3>\n
Ogee gutters<\/em><\/h3>\n
Deep gutters<\/em><\/h3>\n
Box gutters<\/em><\/h3>\n
What sort of problems can you get with gutters?<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n
Land and soil erosion.<\/em><\/h3>\n
Gutters can become blocked<\/em><\/h3>\n
Gutters can crack, sperate, or split<\/em><\/h3>\n
Guttering can detach from fascias<\/em><\/h3>\n
How do you fix gutter problems?<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n
How do I find a guttering specialist in Oxford?<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
In conclusion<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n