Repair or replace: how to tell when your gutters are past fixing
A gutter that leaks is annoying. A gutter that keeps leaking after three repairs is a sign. At some point you stop mending it and start again, and the trick is knowing where that point is.
Here is how we would look at your gutters from the ground, and what tips the answer one way or the other.
Signs a repair will do the job
Repair makes sense when the problem is local and the rest of the gutter is in good shape.
- One leaking joint: drips at a single join usually mean the seal has dried out. It can be cleaned and resealed.
- One loose bracket or clip: if the gutter has dropped in one spot, re-fixing it often brings the fall back.
- A single cracked section: a short length can be cut out and replaced.
- A blocked outlet: not a repair at all, just a clean.
Our gutter repair work covers all of these. The cost depends on how high up the problem is and how many spots need attention, so we look at photos or visit before giving a price.
Signs the whole run is past fixing
Replacement makes sense when the problem is the gutter itself, not one fault in it.
- Leaks at several joints: if the seals are failing along the run, they are all the same age and the rest will follow.
- Brittle, cracked or bowed plastic: old uPVC that has gone brittle will crack again the moment you touch it.
- Rust through the metal: flaking is a paint job. Holes mean the gutter is finished.
- Sags that come back: if brackets keep failing, the fascia behind them may be rotten, which is a wider problem.
- Mismatched patches: several repairs in different colours and styles can cost more than starting again.
If this sounds like your house, see how gutter replacement works for a full run.
Check what the gutter is fixed to
Before you spend anything on the gutter, look at the board behind it. A fascia is the long board running under the roof edge that the gutter hangs from. If it is soft, split or flaking, new brackets will not hold in it.
That changes the job. The fascia has to be repaired or replaced first, then the gutter goes back on. It is much better to know that before a quote than after it. We list the signs to look for in our post on fascia and soffit problems after a Glasgow winter.
How we check from the ground
You do not need to go up a ladder to get a good idea. Stand back across the road, or in the garden, on a rainy day if you can.
- Look along the run for sags, where the line dips instead of running straight.
- Watch for water pouring over the front edge. That can be a blockage or a gutter that has lost its fall.
- Look for green or black streaks on the wall below the joints. They show where water has been getting out.
- Check the downpipes for cracks and staining on the wall.
We then check the same things up close, from the tracked platform on taller buildings, so nobody stands on a ladder.
Clean it before you decide
A lot of gutters get replaced that only needed clearing. Moss, silt and roots make gutters overflow, look sagging under the weight and leak at joints they are forcing apart. A gutter clean costs between £90 and £250 for most houses, and shows you what is actually wrong underneath.
It is also a good time to take photos of the inside of the gutter. A clean gutter with a few small faults is a repair. A clean gutter that is split, thin or pulled away from the board is a replacement.
What affects the price
We do not put numbers on repairs or replacements in an article, because no two houses are the same. These are the things that move the cost up or down:
- Length of gutter: a short side of a terrace is a different job from a detached house all round.
- Height: a single-storey extension is quicker than a three-storey gable.
- Access: whether we can work from the ground or need the tracked platform.
- Material and style: plastic, aluminium and cast iron all cost differently.
- Number of downpipes and corners: every outlet and angle adds fittings and time.
- What is behind the gutter: a sound fascia is simple, a rotten one needs work first.
Questions to ask before you agree a price
- What exactly is wrong, and can you show me?
- Is the fascia behind it sound?
- If we repair, how long might it hold, and what would tell us it has stopped?
- What material will the new run be, and does it match the downpipes?
A good tradesperson will answer these plainly, even when the answer is that you do not need us yet. Call us with what you can see, or send photos on WhatsApp, and we will give you a straight opinion.