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The average life of an aluminium gutter is typically 20-30 years, and possibly longer, depending on factors such as the level of maintenance, the care you take when using ladders against them, and the general weather in the area of which your home is situated. Copper cutters will generally last up to 50 years and galvanised steel gutters around 20 years. Clogged Gutters Clogged gutters are an extremely common problem, especially when you have a busy life and forget to clean them out regularly. The extra weight of the debris in gutters can cause gutters to sag and pull away from the fascia. Clogged gutters are responsible for expensive damage and repairs, including rotting fascia boards, water damage to interior walls and ceilings, wet basements and even cracked foundations. Gutters pulling away from the house Sometimes, hangers, the hardware that secures your gutters to a fascia may have deteriorated, had the fasteners come out of the wood or they’ve been spaced too far apart to hold the weight of the gutter. Professional gutter installers should make sure the latter case is never a cause for concern, and will offer you the correct advice for if your gutters are pulling away. Holes and leaking gutters Decent gutters shouldn’t have holes or leaks, but if yours do, you can seal a small hole through caulking the joint with gutter sealant. For larger holes, you would have to use a gutter patch, or commission high quality, professional guttering. Incorrectly pitched gutters For rainwater to flow properly, gutters need to be pitched towards the downspouts. For every ten feet, you typically need a quarter of an inch slope. You can tell if your gutter is correctly pitched by taking a look after heavy rainstorm- if there’s standing rainwater, your gutter is incorrectly pitched. One of the best things you can do to minimise the gutter problems you face is to regularly clean them. You’ll be surprised at how many items you’ll find in your gutter; we’ve seen children’s toys and dead animals amongst the leaves, twigs and branches typically found in gutters. A garden hose or a leaf blower will help you to regularly clean out your gutter, and in extreme cases, a gutter snake. Additionally, professional installation of high quality guttering will help you to minimise these common gutter problems. |
