Ask the Experts: What Kind of Damage can Clogged Gutters Cause?

‘What kind of damage can clogged gutters cause?’ is a conversational question asked at PermaRoof UK when we’re asked about our Gutterbrush products. We’re here to help from the very start with advice about measurements, preparation and installation of your roof accessories, in addition to a high quality range of products.

How gutters become clogged

Leaves are among the most common organic items that clog gutters. During the autumn months, when the leaves are falling, they can be easily carried into gutters by the wind. If you have low buildings with gutters and overhanging trees, these are key places for clogging.

Over time, if left, debris clumps together and starts to rot down, which can also lead to blockages throughout the water management system.

How can you tell if your gutters are clogged?

Because gutters are typically out of the range of sight, it can be tricky to spot a problem, unless you can clearly see a hole or crack. If you’ve spotted signs of water ingress inside the house, damp patches on ceilings or around the windows, this is a big flag, and the leak may have been there for some time.

You may be able to tell if you watch the gutters and drainpipes during a shower of rain. Look to see if you can see free-flowing water out of the exit points and keep an eye on the gutters for signs of overflow.

Gutters can become clogged and lead to damage quickly, so if you notice a problem, it is important to tackle it as soon as you can.

What you can do to prevent clogging

Better than reacting to an issue is to try to prevent it in the first place. To prevent gutters from being clogged, there are really only two ways to do it.

1. Regular maintenance

Check your gutters regularly for signs of wear or damage and look for rust spots on metal hardware. If you have gutters on flat roofing, visually inspect them from an upstairs window, where you can see whether there is any debris in the gutters.

If you can’t or don’t want to get up and look at the gutters yourself, call in a professional roofer, window cleaner or gutter specialist to check them for you. We would recommend that gutters are cleared bi-annually as a part of your domestic maintenance routine, but more often during the autumn months and if you have overhanging trees.

2. Install a gutter brush to keep debris out

Installing a gutter or leaf guard can help prevent debris from entering the gutter. We stock a polyurethane gutter brush, developed especially to keep domestic gutters free flowing. The simple, yet ingenious design resembles a bottle brush, with fine filaments twisted around a central, stainless steel wire core.

Debris, and especially leaves, hit the gutter brush and simply blow away or are caught in the filaments, where they will break down and flush away through the gutter system. Because no debris can enter the gutter, clogging is prevented. The GutterBrush at PermaRoof UK comes with a 7-year guarantee and can be fitted quickly and easily and then forgotten about for years to come.

Where to buy a GutterBrush

At the PermaRoof UK online store, we stock the GutterBrush in two sizes – 100mm and 150mm  – and in brown, black or white to suit your existing gutter system.

Designed to fit most standard domestic gutter profiles and can be secured or joined using the wires at the ends of each 4m length.

We also stock a discounted, bulk-buy version of 10 lengths (40m in total), ideal for trade or for completing large sections of guttering. These come in separate lengths of 4m each and are joined using the twisted wires at the end of each length.

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Looking for a local installer?

If you’re not confident installing a gutter guard yourself, don’t hesitate to get a quote from a professional. Fast and easy to install, which can, in many cases, reduce labour time and ultimately, the cost of installation.

We work with and train roofers from all over the UK and are happy to connect you with a reliable roofer in your local area. Trained, vetted and part of our Nationwide Installer Network, we can offer you some peace of mind.

Visit our installer network page here >

We hope we have helped you by highlighting the damage that can be caused by clogged gutters and what you can do to prevent it happening. If you have a further question about roof repairs, installation or any other aspect of your flat roof project, give our expert team a call on 01773 608 839 or use the live chat for a quick query.

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