Is it time to replace your gutters? Look for these signs.
Gutter and Downpipe replacement around your property.
The cost of replacing gutters and downpipes depends on a variety of factors including access difficulty, the square metreage of your property, profile/size of materials, whether the fall of the gutters is correct and much more.
Signs to look for when wondering if your gutters need to be replaced?
- Leaking
- Not falling correctly
- Come away from the structure
- Rusting out and holes forming
- Overflowing (gutters could be blocked)
- Gutters coming away from the roof
How can you prevent these issues from happening?
Maintain your roof, gutters and downpipes by cleaning them every 6-12 months depending on your surrounds. If you are unable to do this yourself try enlist help from a friend or relative, otherwise contact a professional roof and gutter cleaning service to assist with the upkeep. We strongly suggest contacting a vacuum style gutter cleaning service as they are both affordable and do an excellent job on ensuring all debris is cleared out. Some other ways you can keep on top of your gutter maintenance include:
- Installing leaf guard in your gutters. NOTE: You should still clean these out regularly, if you don’t it just means the leaf guard will also become clogged with debris and cause leakage or overflow.
- Cut back and maintain the surrounding tree/shrub around your property! This really lessens how much your gutters will fill up over time.
What's involved in replacing your gutters?
It is imperative that your gutters/downpipes are installed properly so drainage flows and your property is kept safe from any unwanted water ingress. When replacing your gutters you should also check if any timber work needs replacing (such as eaves/fascia’s) as this should be done prior to new gutters being installed.
You must check that you have a licenced roof plumber carry out guttering replacement as failure to do so can result in the new system being install incorrectly – this will cost you a lot of money to rectify as there is a chance it will need to be pulled down and redone. You should always take time and ensure you engage in a qualified and well-reviewed tradesman as there are industry standards that must be adhered to with this licenced trade.
Different profiles of gutters.
- Quad Gutters – The most common profile of gutter in today’s environment, a clean & smooth shape that maintains its cleanliness and allows water to flow through it with ease.
- Square Gutters – Square gutters are good at dealing with high volumes of water, given their high capacity. They are considered one of the more stylish gutter options.
- Ogee Gutters – A truly distinctive gutter profile, perfectly suited to heritage homes. The curved front edge of the gutter will offer a distinguishing feature to any home.
- Box Gutters – A large, rectangular gutter that sits inside the roof. It’s a popular option for high water volume areas.
Cost of replacing your gutters?
The cost of replacing gutters and downpipes varies depending on each properties individual circumstance. To guide you in the direction of what might be required at your property, some questions you should ask are:
- Is your property single or double story?
- Will you need scaffold or guard rail to carry out the install?
- What is the size of your property? For example a single story unit will have less lineal metres than a double story 4 bedroom house.
- Is there any timber work required prior to installing your new gutter system?
- Do any structural changes need to be rectified prior to installing your new gutter system?
A licenced Roof Plumber will be able to answer these questions upon inspection and can assist in advising you of the best process and how to move forward with best practice.
Contact us for a quote!
In summary, by maintaining and keeping on top of roof/gutter cleaning your gutters should last you a very long time. To have an inspection carried out by an experienced team member you can arrange so by contacting our office on 03 8738 3451.
