We carry out gutter repairs in Alloa and across Clackmannanshire, fixing leaking joints, loose brackets, sagging runs and broken downpipes, and replacing guttering that is past repair. Gutters look after the rest of the house, so getting them working properly protects your walls, render and brickwork. We are based in Alloa and also cover Stirling, Falkirk and North Lanarkshire. Get in touch for a free quote.
It is easy to forget about guttering until it fails. Yet every time it rains, it carries a surprising amount of water. A roof with a plan area of 100 square metres sheds around 1,000 litres in just 10mm of rain, and all of it has to go somewhere.
Signs your guttering needs attention
Most gutter problems are easiest to spot in heavy rain. Look out for:
- Water pouring over the edge instead of running to the outlet.
- Drips from joints or from underneath the gutter.
- Sagging sections between brackets, or brackets pulling away from the wall.
- Green streaks or stains on the wall below.
- Plants growing out of the gutter, a sign it has been holding water and debris for a long time.
- Downpipes that leak at joints or have come away from the wall.
Historic Environment Scotland’s advice on traditional building maintenance recommends checking gutters and downpipes regularly, usually twice a year and after storms, which is sensible for any house.
Repairs: joints, brackets and falls
Plenty of guttering can be put right without replacing the lot. Leaking joints are resealed or replaced, and loose or broken brackets are refixed or renewed. Brackets are typically spaced around 1m apart along a run, closer near joints and corners.
A gutter also needs a slight fall towards its outlet, often as little as 1:600, or under 2mm per metre. When brackets move, a gutter can end up flat or sloping the wrong way, so water sits in it or spills over. Resetting the fall is often the fix for a gutter that overflows in one spot.
If a gutter is simply blocked rather than damaged, that may be all that is wrong, and we will tell you so rather than recommend work you do not need.
Full replacement
When joints are failing one after another, the gutter has gone brittle or cracked, or the whole run has pulled out of line, patching rarely lasts. In that case we take down the old guttering and fit a new system with new brackets, joints, outlets and downpipes, so the whole run works together.
Downpipes matter as much as the gutter itself. A single outlet at one end of a long run may not cope in a downpour, and an extra outlet and new downpipe can take the pressure off. Where a downpipe is cracked, split at a joint or has come loose from its clips, it is replaced along with the rest so the new system is not let down by an old pipe.
We check that the new gutters are set to the right fall and that water reaches the drains or gullies at ground level. If a downpipe is emptying into a soggy corner of the garden, our garden drainage service can help get the water away properly.
Why overflowing gutters cause damp
When a gutter overflows or leaks, water runs straight down the face of the wall, often hitting the same patch every time it rains. The wall stays wet, algae grows, and moisture works its way through to the inside, showing up as damp patches, peeling paint or mould.
Over the years, that water also damages render, washes out pointing and makes bricks flake as it freezes and thaws. Once the guttering is sorted and the walls have dried, our brickwork repairs and exterior painting services can put the damage right. Landlords and letting agents often ask for guttering and wall repairs together to deal with damp complaints at the source.
What we do not do
We are not roofers. We do not carry out work on slates, tiles, flat roofs or roof coverings. If we notice a slipped slate or something else on the roof while we are working on the guttering, we will tell you so you can get the right trade in.
Guttering across our areas
We carry out gutter repairs in Alloa and throughout Clackmannanshire, including Tullibody, Sauchie, Alva and Tillicoultry. Our Clackmannanshire area page has more on the towns we cover. We also carry out gutter replacement in Falkirk, guttering work in Stirling and Cumbernauld, and new downpipes across the rest of North Lanarkshire.
We are fully insured and have over 15 years’ experience. For gutter repairs in Alloa or anywhere nearby, send us a few details or give us a call for a free quote.
