Gutters are an integral piece of external infrastructure, playing an essential role in keeping rainwater from pooling around your home.
Because of the important job they play, a regular house gutter cleaning service is the best way to keep your gutters well maintained and to extend their lifespan. With proper care and attention, a good set of gutters can last as long as 20 years!
In this article, we take a look at what can affect the lifespan of your gutters and how regular maintenance can help them to last longer.
Gutters perform a truly underrated role when it comes to protecting your home from rainwater damage. Yes, gutters are simple and in many cases, they look rather flimsy, but they’re designed to channel rainwater away from your roof and walls to stop excess water from pooling at the base of your property.
If water does begin to pool, it can seep onto your roof and into the foundations of your home, causing potentially dangerous structural damage. To work effectively, a house gutter cleaning service helps to keep your gutters clear from debris and allows them to do their job properly.
Unfortunately, even the best-maintained gutters won’t last forever. With due care and attention, gutters last for around 20 years on average.
This depends on several factors however, which we’ll address below, and also on the type of material your gutters are made from.
Most gutters are constructed from galvanised steel or uPVC. Steel lasts longer than uPVC, but uPVC is the most common and cost-effective type of gutter available. Copper gutters can even last as long as 50 years, but these aren’t quite so common.
Gutters can start to break before the 20-year mark however, and you should keep an eye out for leaks, cracks and breakages. If you see any signs of these, then it’s time to replace your gutters.
Regardless of which materials your gutters are made from, there are several common factors that can shorten their lifespan.
The most common problem is a build-up of debris. You’ll be surprised at what can get stuck in your gutters, with everything from moss to soggy leaves causing a problem. As debris builds up, it puts extra strain on gutters, causing cracks and breakages.
Blockages can also cause gutters to burst, again affecting their structural integrity, while large rodents and birds can be attracted by debris and begin to nest in gutters, again putting great strain on them and leading to breakages.
Heavy rainfall, violent storms and bad weather generally can all affect the lifespan of your gutters. It’s important to check them thoroughly if you’re worried they might be cracking or leaking.
Regular maintenance is the best way to improve the longevity of your gutters. A professional house gutter cleaning service will clear away all the debris that could be causing blockages, while they will also give you a heads up if there’s anything that looks likely to break.
Regular maintenance will keep away any unwanted wildlife, which can cause problems. Birds are attracted to gutters by twigs and leaves, which they use to build nests. If these are cleared away, then they won’t stay around for too long.
Regular maintenance will stop you from having to replace entire sections of guttering when they break. It will also help to protect your home from pooling water, which can cause dangerous structural problems in the long run. A professional gutter cleaning service will catch problems early, and be able to give you tips on keeping your gutters in top shape to improve their lifespan in the long run.
For a thorough house gutter cleaning, it’s always best to hire professionals. It can be a tricky and even dangerous job if you’ve never carried it out before, so calling in our friendly team of experts at Direct Cleaning Group can save you a lot of work.
Professionals will give your gutters the deep clean they need, helping to maintain your property for the future and ensuring that your gutters need fewer replacements.
Direct Cleaning Group provides a specialist gutter cleaning service across the North West. We do the hard work, so you don’t have to. Contact Direct Cleaning Group and speak with our professional team today to find out more about our house gutter-cleaning service and to book an appointment.
