Gutter cleaning may seem like the last on a much higher list of priorities. And it’s understandable, we live in a busy, modern world. However, cleaning your gutters is an important part of the garden maintenance for the outside of your property. You need to clean them on a regular basis, but the amount of times you’ll need to clean them, and the intervals you can leave in between, will be determined by different factors. The factors we’re talking about are usually caused by nature and the weather. The inclement weather caused by British winters can leave your gutters worn out and full of debris after enduring wind, rainfall, snow and ice.
Here’s an example of some of the factors which influence how often you would normally have to clean you gutters:
- The type of roof you currently have
- The weather, if you’ve had a particularly bad winter your gutters will need cleaning more often
- Any trees you have around you, if you have quite a few, then it’s likely you’ll get quite a few stray leaves and branches in your gutters
- Animals and birds often like to make their nests in gutters so keep an eye out for that when you’re doing a quick check of your property
- Grass – yes grass can find its way into the guttering and cause a blockage. Both grass and plants can grow in your gutters and this type of debris will determine at what time of the year you need to clean them. Leaves – autumn, plants, grass, trees – spring.
If you’re near woodland your gutters will need to be cleaned at the end of each season, especially if you’re property is susceptible to wind.
Trees can be a problem, and the nearer they are the worse it can be for your gutters. They will therefore need a good clean at least every two to three times during the course of a month.
Your type of roof can have an impact on when gutters need cleaning, and slate and silt can sometimes be washed into the gutters. This can then result in plant life growing within them. Rain can cause even more silt so this is something you need to keep an eye out for. Clean your gutters out at the beginning of each spring so you can stop the kind of blockages caused by rain and silt.
Is your roof a complex shape?
This could have its own problems and also determine the frequency of when you need to clean your gutters. If your roof is big enough then more debris in the shape of trees, roots, leaves and plants can make their way into your guttering system and can lead to serious blockages. Another issue may be gutter valleys within your roofing structure which can be problematic.
Speak to the Experts
If you have issues with your gutters, if you have questions about what we’ve discussed today, then get in touch with us here at East of Scotland Drainage. We are experts at gutter cleaning and we offer one of the most comprehensive service in gutter cleaning in West Lothian.