Guttering
Frequently Asked Questions
General
Q: Why do I need to worry about my gutters overflowing?
A: Leaking or overflowing gutters are not just a nuisance and should never be ignored. Yes, it is irritating when the leak is by your window or door and you get splashed or dripped on but that should not be your only concern! Excessive amounts of water overflowing from your guttering could cause a number of serious problems around your home, some of which could cause you hundreds if not thousands of pounds to repair.
Q: What are some of the problems leaking or overflowing guttering can cause?
A: Ignoring a problem with your guttering can lead to a number of effects. Discolouration of your external walls or penetrating damp problems within your walls is a common problem. A badly fitted gutter that blocks and overflows could allow water to flow behind fascia boards or cladding which could lead to wooden beams and supports becoming rotten. A more serious effect of prolonged and excessive overflow is localized subsidence! This could decrease the value of your home significantly and cost a great deal to fix.
Q: How do I know if the problem with my gutters is serious enough to bother about?
A: Any problem with your guttering should be remedied as soon as possible. There is no such thing as a problem too small. The sooner you have it fixed, the less it will cost you. A simple gutter clearing will cost very little compared to the cost of repair should any one of the knock-on-effects, as mentioned above, occur.
Q: I could install my own guttering. Why should I hire someone else to do it for me?
A: Installing guttering is a precise task and requires experience and expertise. Gutters must be installed correctly and accurately in order to work effectively. Any errors made during installation may cause your guttering to have a dramatically shortened life span. Incorrectly installed gutters or down pipes can even lead to major problems such as those listed above.
Q: How do I know that I’m not being overcharged?
A: Simply request an estimate or quote from more than one company for the work required. Although it is not always wise to simply accept the lowest price, this will give you a good idea as to what is a fair rate.
Q: How can I be sure that my guttering will be fitted correctly? I know there are a lot of ‘cowboys’ and ‘rouge traders’ out there.
A: We have never had an unsatisfied customer! Our work is important to us and so are our customers. While we do advertise we rely heavily on ‘word of mouth’ advertising. We also provide excellent after installation care to all our customers. If you have any problems or issues with your new guttering we are always here to help solve them.
We understand that while PVCu guttering is suitable for most homes, there will sometimes be unforeseen problems after installation. For example, overly windy conditions can cause guttering to come loose over a period of time. This will often only be apparent some time after installation and may require the use of extra brackets or holdings to secure gutters. One call to us and we will remedy the problem for no extra cost as all our installations are covered by a 5 year guarantee**.
**Only covers problems due to incorrect installation. All installations are covered by this guarantee except when stated otherwise. Blockages due to debris are not included. Any adjustments or repairs carried out by non approved parties will void guarantee.
Q: I live in a very small village on the outskirts of Bedfordshire. Do I fall within your operating area?
A: Simply click on the link to the ‘coverage' link to see a map of the areas we cover. If you are located on, or just outside, the border of the area shown in green then please contact us and we will be happy to confirm whether we cover your area. Remember, we are only a phone call away and always happy to help with any enquiries with no obligation.
Q: How much will an installation or repair cost? And when do I have to pay?
A: We price every job individually to make sure you pay only for what you receive. While we cannot give estimates for work until we have a description of the work required, we make sure you have a firm quote before any work is undertaken. There are no surprises in store when its time to pay. For a guide to our typical price ranges, please click here. Usually we only ask for payment when we have completed all work. However, on large installations we may ask for a deposit towards the parts and materials.
Installations
Q: When do I need to have new guttering installed?
A: If your guttering has warped or perished to the point that a repair would be unlikely to remedy any problems, we recommend you have new guttering installed. However, you can have new guttering fitted whenever you like. Perhaps your current guttering is old and tired looking or you just want a new colour or style.
Q: How long does an installation take?
A: This depends on the amount of guttering to be installed. Most installations can be completed within one or two days. However, large installations may take longer.
Q: What do I do with my old guttering?
A: Usually we will take your old guttering away (excluding asbestos guttering). However, if you want to dispose of this yourself then you may receive a small reduction in the cost of the installation.
Repairs & Clearing
Q: Water overflows from my guttering only when it rains. Why is this?
A: When you gutters or down pipe are blocked but otherwise are in good condition water will usually only over flow when it rains. This may not seem to be a problem but if the water flows down the back of the fascia board or heavily down one section of wall it may still cause penetrating damp.
Q: Water drips from my gutters for a long time after it rains. Why?
A: This is often because the seals or joints on your guttering have degraded or perished. Usually this problem will be made worse by the presence of a blockage in your gutters or down pipe.
Q: Sections of my gutters are beginning to sag. Should I be concerned?
A: Yes. This is usually a sign that you gutters where installed incorrectly. Sagging can occur when brackets have been placed too far apart. This leads to deposits of debris forming within the guttering and can lead to blockages. If ignored, sagging can progress to warping of the guttering. This can lead to more severe problems and is more expensive to fix. Therefore, it is easier and cheaper to have the problem resolved as soon as sagging is noticed.
GutterGuard
Q: My gutters become blocked frequently. As much as twice a year. Will GutterGuard help?
A: Yes. Most recurring blockages are due to leaves or moss falling into gutters. GutterGuard stops large clumps of loss or leaves from entering the guttering. This prevents blockages forming so fast. Often reducing the frequency of blockages to just a fraction of what it was. It may even stop the problem altogether.
Q: Is GutterGuard Expensive?
A: Often, the entire home can be fitted for under £100. This can save you a lot of money over time as clearing your gutters year after year can be costly.
Q: I don’t have any problems with my gutters. Do I need GutterGuard?
A: Even if your gutters stay clear from blockages this does not mean you don’t have debris falling into them. It is becoming more common to see guttering without any protection against debris falling into down pipes. When debris is washed into the down pipe it can cause blockages within underground drainage systems. This can be very expensive to fix and can cause serious problems. GutterGuard Stops any large debris entering the down pipe and therefore greatly reduces the risk of underground blockages.