LJ-Maintenance

Keeping on top of your gutter and roof health is an important part of home maintenance and improvement. Regular inspections, gutter repairs and upkeep will ensure your property weathertight on the outside – but also prevent possible damage to the inside.
Gutters might be out of sight but should never be out of mind. To find out more, read our handy guide to all things gutters!


What is gutter cleaning?
The main purpose of gutters and guttering is to safely remove rainfall from the properties and whisking it away, into the drainage system. Gutters and roofs are not designed to hold standing water for lengthy periods of time.

Clogged gutters, caused by a build-up of debris, can hamper effective rainwater drainage and long term can cause expensive and preventable  damage to your property.

Why do gutters get blocked?
Blockages are caused by a mixture of falling debris – such as leaves, twigs, moss and tile sediment, along with unwelcome plants.
Plants? Yes, gutter gardens are more common that you think!

Over time leaves and moss will breakdown into a fertile peat and provide a welcome compost for airborne seeds and spores. With perfect growing conditions – ample rainwater and bouts of sunshine, before you know it, your down pipe is plugged with deep rooted weeds.

Can blocked gutters cause property damage?
Yes, absolutely! Roofs and gutters are designed to swiftly remove water and not to retain it. Trapped rainwater provides a fertile soup for airborne grass seeds and before long, your own high level gutter garden forcing water to spill over the edges, and cause fascia boards to rot. Seeping down building walls, rainwater can cause rising mould spores to form on internal walls, insulation, windows, and ceilings. In extreme cases, property foundations can become compromised as trapped water – which should be making its way into the drains – starts to pool around the building.

Keeping your gutters free flowing, whether they are old style cast iron, pressed steel box gutter, or plastic (PVC) types, is an essential part of property maintenance.

How do I know that my gutters are clogged?
Well, with obvious blockages, you will see tell-tale plant growth peeping over the top of your gutters and during showers, rainwater spilling over the gutter edges is definite sign of an overhead issue. Other things to look for are leaking, sagging or a build-up of algae in any of the joints or around the side of the building. Next time you are out and about, don’t just look down at your driveway, but make a point of looking up as well down.

And those annoying moss crumbs that tumble onto the patio and driveway, they’re also dropping into the gutters…

For ladder-less inspections, we use a high access inspection camera attached to a telescopic pole. The camera monitor provides quick and easy eyes on, and eyes in, all from the safety of the ground. So, give LJ-Maintenance a call today to be reassured about your gutter health

How often should I get my gutters cleaned?
We typically recommend spring and autumn for gutter clearance, but this very much depends on the property.

· Spring, as this is the growing season, when grass seeds spring to life in any residual gutter sediment lurking in the pipes.

· Autumn, to keep of top of those falling leaves, along with moss and twigs that are being washed down with the autumnal showers. It also protects gutters through the winter season as standing water can freeze and thaw causing joints to split, causing leaks.

However, if you have a property plagued with overhanging branches, has aggressive wall climbing plants, or a north facing roof with moss build up then regular check-ups are advisable. It’s especially important to check after bad weather or strong winds as larger chunks of debris can become lodged and cause gutter blockages