Guttering Services Fife: Gutter Cleaning and Gutter Repairs

Are you looking for a guttering service in the Fife area (Kirkcaldy, Glenrothes, Dunfermline etc) but unsure who to use?

There are many contractors who carry out gutter services in Fife but who should you go with?

This blog post will outline:

• What are gutters
• Types of gutters
• How to maintain gutters
• Leaking downpipes
• Maintenance

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Guttering Services Fife: What Are Gutters

Gutters are channels or small troughs put around the edge of roofs in order to collect rain water. This water then flows down a down-pipe and into a drain.

Gutters are generally made from half-piping that are then positioned just underneath the edges of your roof to allow the water to easily collect as it runs off your roof.

Blocked or broken gutters aren’t just an eye sore.

They can damage your property and end up costing you a lot of money.

At LC Joinery Roofing and Building Work we can clean, repair and replace all kinds of guttering system safely, efficiently and quickly, but most importantly at an affordable rate.

We are happy to provide a free no obligation quote for your property and a member of our team will come out and assess your gutters to provide an accurate report.

Our team are qualified to carry out work on commercial and domestic properties. 

Guttering is something that is often overlooked and is only really noticed when something has gone wrong.

We recommend that you keep on top of gutter maintenance to avoid causing more serious and costly damage to the pipes and to your property!

Guttering Services Fife: What Types Of Guttering Are Most Popular?

PVC Guttering

PVC and uPVC gutters are the most common type of guttering and they can be found on any new houses or structures built today.

They have fast become more popular than their cast iron counterparts as they are cheaper, lighter and do not require painting.

What Are The Pros And Cons of PVC Guttering

Pros

• Low cost purchase and installation
• Easy cleaning
• Light, flexible and easy to replace
• Water resistant so will not corrode over time
• Plastic surface shows less scratches and dents

Cons

• PVC tends to get brittle over time and through exposure to sunlight and extreme weather, the guttering can sometimes crack if pressure is placed upon it.
• Unlike PVC gutters, uPVC doesn’t flex as there are no plasticisers present in the compound. This makes the gutter more rigid but doesn’t add any more weight to the product. The uPVC still retains enough flexibility to move in freezing weather, which will prevent splitting and cracking. PVC is essentially moulded plastic, making its shape and colour highly adaptable to the design of your home.

Cast Iron Gutters

If your house is quite old, the chances are it has cast iron gutters and downpipes. You will be able to tell if your gutters are cast iron because they will be painted on the outside. Plastic and PVC gutters are not painted.

What Are The Pros and Cons of Cast Iron Guttering

Pros

• Rigid and robust
• Handle radical temperature changes well, expanding and contracting with ease
• Ensures the rainwater will always flow where it should
• Only needs to be repainted every three years or so
• If maintained properly, can last a lifetime

Cons

• Traditional cast iron systems are incredibly heavy and can cause problems to walls if they are not strong enough.
• Difficult to handle and install due to its size and weight
• Rusts over time which can then cause leaks and loose joints

Cast iron gutters are a long term alternative to plastic gutters. They can last for over a century provided they are well maintained.

They come in either aluminium or galvanised steel.

It is recommended that a layer of paint is then added to them to protect them from issues such as adverse weather conditions, and corrosive erosion or rust. 

Both options can be styled in such a manner that you’ll reap the benefit of a fantastic looking roofline for many years.

Cast iron gutters are extremely heavy so their fastenings need to be checked regularly to ensure they have not come loose. if they have come loose the it is important to have them secured to the building before they cause irreparable damage.

How To Maintain Gutters

We recommend that either yourself or a reliable company carryout periodical cleaning of your guttering to ensure there are no blockages and nothing compromising the drainage system.

Gutters are a crucial line of defence against water leaking into your home.

Gutters and downpipes that are blocked by leaves, moss and other debris cause water to spill down the face of the wall or seep into the timber behind the gutter, including the rafters and joists.

Water trapped in pipes during the colder weather can freeze, resulting in cracks and splits in the pipework.

The main factor in determining whether to repair or replace your gutters will be the extent of the damage.

If you only have one or two trouble spots, they should be easy to fix. However, if multiple sections of your gutters are giving you problems or you have tried repairing a problem before and it keeps coming back, you should save yourself the headache and replace your gutters.

What Causes Leaking Downpipes

What are signs of leaking downpipes?

• Wet, stained or slimy external wall
• Damp patches in rooms
• Mould on walls
• Damp smells

What Can Cause The Leak

• Blocked and overflowing pipes
• Split, cracked or dislodged pipes
• Cast iron pipes may have rusted through
• If a cast iron pipe gets blocked, trapped water can freeze and expand, causing the pipe to split.
• PVCu pipes are vulnerable to impact damage

If a pipe is cracked or broken we recommend it is repaired or replaced as soon as possible.

PVCu is the easiest pipe to replace, it is just a case of unscrewing brackets and taking the broken pipe out and replacing.

If it is a cast iron pipe, this can be a difficult job, this type of pipe is held on by metal brackets and that are attached with spikes that are driven through the brickwork of the property.

Removing this type of pipe can cause damage to the brickwork of the property if the proper care is not taken.

Sometimes brackets are fitted with spacers to prevent the pipe contacting the wall and n this case, removing the broken pipe will be more straightforward.

How Can You Contact Us

If you are looking to get your gutters checked out then get in contact with us today – 01592 747047 or email us on [email protected] and we will get a visit arranged.