Gutter and downpipe cleaning

Signs your gutters are blocked

Gutters fail quietly. Most people only notice when water is pouring over the edge in a downpour, and by then it may have been happening for months. Watch out for:

• Water spilling over the front of the gutter when it rains, or dripping behind it
• Plants or weeds growing out of the gutter
• Green or dark streaks on the wall under the gutter, or damp patches on inside walls
• A gutter that sags between brackets, or holds standing water after rain stops
• Splashing at ground level that's eroding the soil or staining the paving
• A downpipe that stays dry, or gurgles, while the gutter above overflows

The easiest time to check is during a heavy shower. Stand back from the house and watch the gutters for a minute: you'll see exactly where water is spilling over, and a quick phone video of it helps us find the problem before we arrive.

Any one of these signs is worth a look. Water running down a wall for a whole winter can lead to damp inside, stained render and rotting timber, so it's cheaper to deal with early.

Where the blockage comes from

On most Irish houses, moss is the main cause. It grows on the roof, comes loose in rain and wind, and washes straight into the gutter. Add leaves from nearby trees and the fine grit that washes off older concrete tiles, and within a year or two the gutter is half full of compost.

Once the outlet into the downpipe is partly blocked, the problem speeds up. Water backs up, silt settles, and grass and weeds find a home. Before long, the gutter holds water instead of carrying it away.

If the roof itself is mossy, clearing the gutters is only half the job. The moss will keep coming down, and roof cleaning deals with the source.

What a gutter clean includes

• Gutters emptied along the full length: front, back, extensions, porches and garages if you want them done.
• Outlets cleared, so water can get into the downpipes.
• Downpipes checked, with blockages at the top, the bends and the bottom flushed through where they can be.
• A flow check. Water run through the gutters to check they drain towards the outlets and to show up leaking joints.
• Waste bagged and taken away. No sludge left on your patio or in your bin.
• A report on anything we spot. Cracked joints, loose brackets or sagging sections, photographed so you can see for yourself.

Most houses are done in a single visit. We'll tell you how long yours will take when we quote.

What helps on the day

• move cars parked close to the walls, since debris and dirty water can fall while we work
• unlock the side gate, and let us know about any dogs in the garden
• tell us about anything fragile below the gutters, such as a conservatory roof, a glass canopy, a greenhouse or delicate planting
• point out any spot you've noticed overflowing, because that's often where the blockage is

Downpipes and drains

A clear gutter is no use if the downpipe is blocked. Downpipes usually block in three places: at the top where the gutter outlet narrows, at the bends where they turn in along the wall, and at the bottom where the pipe meets the gully or drain.

The first two usually clear once the gutter is emptied and the pipe is flushed. A blockage at the bottom often clears too, as long as it's in the gully rather than in the underground drain itself. If water still won't go down after that, the problem is further along the drain, and we'll tell you so you can call a drainage company rather than pay us for something we can't fix.

Gutters, fascias and soffits in one visit

Once the gutters are clear, the rest of the roofline usually looks worse by comparison. Green algae on the fascias, grubby soffits and black streaks down the gutter fronts are common, especially on the north side of the house.

We clean the outside of the gutters, fascias, soffits and bargeboards with a low-pressure wash, so the whole roofline comes up together. It's one visit and one set-up. See fascia and soffit cleaning for how it's done, and soft washing if the walls below have green streaks from years of overflow.

When to have them cleaned

Late autumn, once the leaves have dropped, is the classic time: the gutters are at their fullest and winter rain is on the way. If you have big trees nearby, a second clean in late spring catches the seeds and blossom. Houses in open, exposed spots tend to stay clear longer, while homes in mature, leafy estates fill fastest.

If you're getting the roof cleaned, do the gutters at the same time or straight after, never before. And if water from an overflowing gutter has been landing on the paving below, keeping it green and slippery, it may be worth adding driveway cleaning or patio cleaning once the gutters are sorted.

How gutter cleaning is priced

Every house is different, so we price each job on:

1. Length of guttering: a terraced house, a semi-d or a detached house with extensions
2. Height: bungalow, two storeys or three
3. Access: conservatories, extensions, steep banks or a narrow side passage
4. Condition: a light clear-out or years of compacted moss and weeds
5. Extras: downpipe clearing, gutter fronts, fascias and soffits, or a roof clean on the same visit

You'll get a fixed price before anything is booked. Our gutter cleaning guide has more on when and why, and the power washing overview covers every other surface we clean.