Gutter Clearing

Gutters. You probably came here because you have had them on your mind lately. And thats not a bad thing, no matter what they say. Gutters have been a feature of houses in wet climates since those inventive Romans discovered a way to keep rain drops from splashing dirt up their nicely plastered walls. In fact, the English word "gutter" comes via the lattin word for "drop", gutta.

If left to drop from the edge of a roof, the drips can errode the ground at the foot of the wall, or splash up and cause damp issues with older walls. Even modern cavity walls can suffer damage in cold weather due to ice casuing spalling of the bricks and mortar. Those lucky drips that fail to drop from the rafters can cause other issues such as end-rot to roof timbers. So, keeping your gutters flowing during our famously wet climate is vital for prolonging the life of a building. What can go wrong?

Blocked Gutters

Of course, having a gutter is one thing; having a working gutter is quite another. Almost every season seems out to pick on gutters in particular. From the creaking and cracking heard during those all too short summer days, the nesting of birds in spring, through to the sudden drop of leaves in the autumn and ice dams in the winter. Over time gutters can spring leaks, but probably the most common issue is actually just beyond the gutter, in the downspout. With every fresh shower, any leaf litter or loose moss will flow down to the outlet. Here the water drops away, leaving behind the debris to build up and cause a blockage. Wherever the flow is not sufficient to continually wash away any algae growth, this too can accumulate and create a blockage. Before you know it, water has nowhere to go and starts to back up, adding weight to the clips and supports, and allowing water to overflow behind the eaves casuing damp and mould growth on walls and ceilings. In some cases the wooden boards behind UPVC cladding can rot away leaving nothing to support the gutter, as well as the cladding itself and any other fixings such as telephone wires. Whilst this may be a tad over-dramatic, the potential for regular maintenance to avoid costly repairs cannot be understated.

The Solution

Wren Technical Sevices offer a safe and effective way to clear out gutters. We have a long reach wet-and-dry vacuum cleaner which can empty blocked gutters of silt and loose leaves with ease. We can even break out the ladders and seal any broken joints or disconnected sections. We use a safe access system with climbing ropes and harness in conjunction with the ladders to reduce the risk of falling from height. We also have public liablity insurance for your peace of mind.

Give us a call today to arrange a visit. We quote £5 per metre, which works out to between £100 and £180 for most houses.