The best outcome from a poorly maintained gutter is that your wall will need painting or repainting due to unsightly staining. The worst outcome is that you will need expensive damp correction work, woodwork on doors or windows replacing, and the wall will need re-pointing. All far more expensive than correct maintenance.

In addition to clearing and checking your gutters we also give your roof a detailed inspection. This will pick up minor, cheaply correctable problems before they turn into major issues. Major types of roof damage are usually easy to see from ground level, or are obvious because you have a leak! Minor damage which is often invisible from ground level can lead over the years to major damage. Some types of minor damage it is important to correct as soon as possible, other damage whilst not ideal can safely be left for months. Here are two typical scenarios.

Flashing is typically an easily bent lead, zinc or copper strip material. Often one end is anchored into mortar, and the other is nailed, clipped or glued to the roof. A poor builder will often leave the roof end loose, the problem with this is that birds and other animals will pull it up when searching for insects, the wind gets underneath it, and so on. Its function is to prevent water which hits a vertical surface such as a chimney or a dormer window from trickling down into the necessary expansion gap between this structure and the roof causing rotten timbers. Loose and 'flapping' flashing will cause damp penetration and lead to unnecessary roof timber replacement in exactly the same way that excessive moss growth will. Torn or holed Flashing however is often responsible for mystery damp patches on ceilings near internal walls and larger leaks around chimney stacks.
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Results of a diy roof rebuild - the new roofline had not been taken far out enough from the wall allowing water to penetrate into the brick. Note how the mortar between the bricks was also being washed away. Since the loft area inside is unheated, the surface of the wall can freeze, the water inside the brick then expands forcing the brick to shatter. This type of damage can also be caused by gutter defects and is more often seen on garden walls!

Why can't I just do it myself!

Well gutter clearance you can certainly do yourself. Dont forget a few things however -
Firstly you will need a good sectional ladder with attachments (cost > £150) and somewhere dry to keep it. You could hire a ladder however this typically costs £45 plus transport costs and there is no guarantee it will be available when you are! We have pitched our pricing to be very near to the cost of ladder hire for the average property.
Secondly you will need a good head for heights and a finely tuned sense of balance. Dont forget that every year there are over 3,000 deaths in the UK caused by home accidents and use of ladders is in the top five causes!
Thirdly you will need a good selection of sealants and fixings ready to hand to effect repairs.

We are sorry to say that roof inspection requires many years experience and is beyond the scope of a DIY-er. You need to be able to tell the difference between a minor problem which does not need correcting and a minor problem which will worsen with time.
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What happens if you find a fault?

Well if it is a 5 minute solution like bending a piece of flashing down, or dabbing sealant on a gutter join and it is reachable easily we will simply do it at no extra cost. For chargeable repairs we will take digital pictures of the problem so that you can be certain of what we are talking about. Then we will make a reccomendation as to whether work needs doing immediately, or within a certain timeframe. If there is a temporary fix then we will point that out as well and give you a cost and timescale for the work. You may of course go elsewhere for additional quotes if you wish but as an existing customer you can be assured you will be quoted our best price on any works needed.
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How Does the monthly Payment Scheme Work?

Firstly you get an estimated monthly cost from this website, this is based on the size and shape of your property. If this cost is acceptable to you then you pay a one off admin and joining fee of £30 and we allocate you your customer ID number. We then set up a direct debit and arrange the date of your first maintenancevisit. We attend and clear your gutters, inspect your roof and give you an 'all clear' report or alternatively a detailed report of works that need doing and their costs plus suggested timescales.Click here for an online quote.
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Falling from a Ladder is never a good idea and is frequently fatal from any height greater than nine feet (2.75 Metres) and usually results in serious injury from heights greater than five feet (1.5 Metres). If you must do it yourself then make sure you use devices which anchor both the top end of the ladder against the wall, and the bottom end of the ladder to the ground. Never ever go up a ladder when nobody else is about to call an ambulance because minutes count for your survival if you suffer internal bleeding which is the most frequent cause of death from ladder accidents. By the way the gentleman at left is an Australian stuntman reknowned for his ladder stunts and is falling onto an air filled crash-bag. You are more likely to hit the garden fence!