Gutter cleaning in Fulham and gutter repairs

Why gutters in Fulham fill up so quickly

Many Fulham streets and back gardens have mature trees close to the houses. In autumn the leaves end up in the gutters, and by winter they have turned into a wet mat that stops water flowing. Moss from slate roofs, bits of broken tile and the odd tennis ball add to it. Pigeons and other birds also leave nesting material in gutters and hoppers.

Once a gutter is blocked, rainwater spills over the edge and runs down the brickwork. On a Victorian terrace, that can mean green streaks on the front wall, soaked window sills and damp patches inside the bedroom. Regular gutter cleaning in Fulham is one of the simplest ways to protect an older house from water damage, because the fix is simple and the damage from leaving it can be slow and costly.

What gutter cleaning in Fulham involves

We scoop out the debris by hand, bags it and takes it away or leaves it where you ask. We then flush the downpipes with water to check they flow freely. A blocked downpipe is a common culprit when a gutter keeps overflowing at one corner, and it is often a ball of leaves stuck in the bend at the top, called the swan neck, or in the hopper head.

Some terraced houses have a butterfly roof. That is a roof shaped like a V when you look at it from the street, with a valley gutter running down the middle to a box at the back. These hidden gutters fill with leaves and are easy to forget about, so we check them where they can be reached safely.

• Front and back gutters cleared and bagged
• Downpipes, swan necks and hoppers flushed
• Valley gutters checked where safely reachable
• Photos of anything that needs repair

Gutter repairs we can handle

Plastic gutters are joined with clips that have rubber seals inside. Over the years those seals perish and the joints start to drip. Replacing a union joint or a stop end is usually a quick fix. Brackets can also snap or work loose, which lets the gutter sag so water collects in the low point instead of running to the outlet.

Cast iron gutters still survive on some period houses. They are heavy and need painting to stop rust, and the joints are bolted and sealed. Small repairs and resealing are possible, but where a run is badly rusted, we will tell you what we see and whether repair or replacement makes more sense. Hammersmith and Fulham Council says conservation areas cover about half the borough, and some permitted development rights are restricted in them, so check with the council before changing cast iron to plastic.

Working at height safely

Gutter work means working at height, and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) sets out a simple order of thinking. First avoid working at height where it is reasonably practicable. If that is not possible, prevent a fall by using the right equipment. Where the risk cannot be removed, reduce the distance and consequences of a fall.

For gutter cleaning, that often means using long reach tools from the ground on single storey extensions and bay roofs. HSE says ladders can be a sensible choice for low risk, short duration tasks, and that a ladder should not lean against weak surfaces such as plastic gutters. On a tall three storey house or above a basement area, a ladder may not be the right tool, and access equipment such as a tower may be needed. We will look at your building and tell you honestly what is safe.

Flats, mansion blocks and shared gutters

In converted houses, the gutters usually belong to the whole building, and who pays depends on the lease. Garden flat owners are often the first to notice a problem because the water lands on their patio. It is worth talking to the other flats or the managing agent so the job can be booked once for everyone.

For larger mansion blocks, some gutters and roof outlets are high up and need proper access equipment. We can look at what is within reach and be clear about what is not. We work across Fulham, Parsons Green, Sands End and Fulham Broadway.

Signs inside the house that point to the gutters

Gutter problems do not always show from the street. A brown stain spreading from a top corner of a bedroom ceiling, damp at the top of a wall under the eaves, or flaking paint on the inside of a bay window can all start with a blocked or leaking gutter outside. In basement flats, water spilling from a blocked downpipe can soak the lightwell and find its way under the front door.

If you notice any of these, look outside next time it rains. Water pouring over the edge of a gutter or spraying from a joint is a strong clue. Booking gutter cleaning in Fulham at that point is far easier than dealing with damp plaster and redecorating later. Where the inside wall has been damaged, we can repair the plaster once the outside is fixed and the wall has dried.

How often should gutters be cleaned?

There is no fixed rule, as it depends on how many trees are close by. Houses beside big trees may need gutters cleared every autumn, while others manage longer. Signs to watch for include plants growing out of the gutter, water pouring over the edge during rain, staining on the wall below and a dripping sound after the rain has stopped.

If you have a run of leaky joints or a sagging section, it is sensible to get gutter cleaning in Fulham and the repairs done on the same visit so the access only has to be set up once.

Common questions