Guttering Repairs – 4 Things You Need to Know

Needing your guttering repaired?  – Then you need to read this; it will save you thousands of pounds in unnecessary costs. We answer the four most common questions and explain the best methods and ideas to repair your gutters.

1. How much does it cost to fix a leaking gutter joint?
2. Can Leaky Gutters be repaired?
3. What Tradesman does guttering?
4. Is it better to replace or repair gutters?

So, let’s get straight into these points and share with you the 4 things you need to know for guttering repairs:

1. How much does it cost to fix a leaking gutter joint?

If you need to get a tradesman to fix your gutters then it is likely to cost you more than £200 as a minimum, due to the call-out costs of the tradesman.

It’s a good idea to check how many leaking gutter joints you have in total first, even if some are not leaking as badly or even at all. Generally fixing and sealing all your gutter joints in one go will be a lower cost if you, as the tradesman only has to travel to your address once.

Also, if they need to use ladders of scaffold towers to reach the gutters then it’s best to get them all repaired at one time.

The trouble is, however, that if you have plastic gutters, when the tradesman tries to repair the leaking gutter joints, if you have plastic gutters, then this is likely to be hard for them to provide a long-term repair for you.

The pictures below show gutter joints that have been repaired twice already. The past repair only lasted a few months at best.

This is because plastic gutters have two inherent issues that create leaking gutter joints. Firstly, the plastic joints become brittle with age and therefore are likely to need to be replaced.

Secondly, plastic gutter joins are sealed with a separate rubber or foam gasket which is exposed within the joint and becomes cracked and brittle. In many cases, the gaskets become dislodged entirely and fall out.

If the repair is made with some temporary sealant, then this is likely to fail very quickly and cost you more money in future weeks when it leaks again.

If you replace the plastic gutter unions with new plastic unions, then you will often find the new unions and gaskets don’t seal well to the old guttering lengths.

So, is there a solution? – for plastic gutters there really isn’t any viable way to repair them for any acceptable period, which costs you a lot of money with repeated repairs over time.

However, if you have already had the issue with leaking gutter joints, then it’s time to switch to an affordable aluminium gutter system, that will last much longer and won’t cost any additional money and hassle with costly ongoing repairs.

2. Can Leaky Gutters be repaired?

Yes, all leaky gutters can be repaired, but if you have plastic gutters then the repair won’t last very long, and the cost of repair will be wasted.

Most metal gutters can be repaired to last for many years to come, but if you have leaky plastic gutters, then the best plan is to replace them with an affordable aluminium guttering system, where you know your money is not going to be spent on temporary fixes.

Think about it, with the cost of the tradesman’s time and the cost of the access equipment to access the guttering it’s not likely to be cheap. And then you have the concern that the repair is unlikely to last more than a few weeks!

Replacing your gutters with new affordable aluminium gutters won’t be too much more expensive and will give you peace of mind for many years to come.

Additionally, you will find some aluminium guttering systems come with hidden brackets which means the look of your property will be so much better. Afterall, the value of a property is significantly and positively affected by the look of the roofline, as much as it is by other investments such as new windows for example.

3. What Tradesman does guttering?

Most Roofers, Builders and Plumbers will install or repair guttering. However, as guttering is a relatively easy product to install then most tradesmen and DIYers can also install them.

If you are not able to access your own gutters to repair them, then you could try looking for a local handyman who may work out a lower cost than a specific tradesperson.

However, if you are replacing your gutters with affordable long-lasting guttering then you will want to check with whatever Tradesman you choose that they have installed guttering before and maybe consider asking them to share examples of work they have done before.

Aluminium Guttering, is relatively easy to install, and if you choose an aluminium gutter with Rock n Lock® gutter brackets then you will find most DIYers can install it themselves. This saves cost whilst giving you a great new look to your house.

4. Is it better to replace or repair gutters?

It is better to replace gutters when they break or leak. Repairs to gutters don’t tend to last very long but are also quite expensive.

When you replace gutters, the cost of the guttering materials is not that high when you consider the fact that to repair them you still need to get access equipment, and you have the cost of labour or your own time in any case.  

However, remember that the reason your gutters broke or are leaking in the first place is probably due to them being made from plastic. Plastic gutters fade and become brittle and will easily leak and break in the future. So, we strongly recommend that when replacing gutters you choose an aluminium guttering system.

Not only have you got leaking gutters to worry about but also you find other fittings such as downpipe brackets which easily break as shown below and become unsightly and unsafe.

The great news is that aluminium gutters and aluminium downpipes are now available at affordable prices. Furthermore, they are available in three standard colours as well as being available in any RAL colour to special order.

Aluminium guttering is super strong and will last many years. Additionally, because it’s made from aluminium which is a natural element in the earth’s crust it is more sustainable. The estimated lifespan of aluminium is 60 years and even when it gets to the end of this lifespan it is infinitely recyclable.

Why Everyone is Changing to Aluminium Gutters & Downpipes:

You can see from the above if you have leaking gutters, the best plan is to replace them with aluminium gutters which will provide a lower cost over time and most likely last for the lifetime of the property.

With the latest aluminium gutter and downpipe systems you can now get:

• Affordable Solution
• Long Lasting system
• Storm Proof Design
• Hidden Gutter Brackets
• Highly Sustainable Material
• 100% Recyclable End of Life System
• In any RAL colour of your Choice
• That won’t break or leak like plastic gutters do.

That’s why everyone is changing from plastic gutters to aluminium gutters – it’s one of those genuine win-win product systems that provides exactly what all property owners are looking for.

Get Free Advice: We’re here to help, and our friendly Live Chat teams have a lot of experience in guttering projects of all kinds so why not reach out for some free additional advice?