How to Clean and Repair a Gutter

Over the course of the year, the exterior of your home will feel the affects of the weather. When the rain is persistent and the wind is gale force, you might find yourself needing to clean and repair your gutters. Damaged or blocked gutter systems cause water to overflow and pour over. If water can't flow Here's some tips to help you clean your gutters and repair them should they need it.

What Will You Need?

Before you get started on your gutter cleaning or repairs, you're going to need a few things to help you get the job done.

• Ladders - To give you safe access to the guttering if needed but please only use ladders if you are confident & trained to do so
• Bucket - For any leaves or other debris that may clog up the gutters
• Gloves - So you're hands are protected whilst getting out any debris
• Scoop - To get whatever is blocking the guttering system out if you don't want to use your hands
• Gutter sealant - For filling in any holes that may appear
• Wire Brush/Sand Paper/Emery Cloth - To clean old paint and debris off a cast-iron gutter
• Pressure Washer/Hose - To clean the exterior of the guttering system

Why Guttering Will Need Cleaning or Repairing

There are several reasons why your guttering system will need cleaning, repairing or both.

Old paint could peel away on rusty cast-iron gutters, the guttering could be blocked, if the system has been up for a long time it may need replacing or plastic guttering could break and snap which will create leaks .Your guttering can also get damaged due to extreme weather.

Before you start working on your guttering, make sure you check that your ladders are safe to work on. If you feel that your ladders aren't safe to work on, HSS has you covered. Take a look at our selection of ladders that you can hire or buy so you can safely do your guttering cleaning or repairs.

Cleaning and Repairing Your Gutters

Use a Pressure Washer - Dirt, twigs, firework remains, dust, moss and so many other things can be blown on to or grown on guttering systems. Using a pressure washer will be a handy tool to clean your gutters easily and quickly, without you having to use any ladders. If you don't have access to a pressure washer, you can also use a hose which we be just as affective.

Blockages - When your guttering systems become blocked, there are a few things you can do to help to unblock them and get water flowing properly again. Put on your gloves & use your ladders to safely climb up to the gutters to scoop out any leaves or other debris that may be stopping the flow of the water. If you'd rather use tools for the blockage, you can use a scoop or a gutter cleaner that you can buy online at HSS. Anything that you pull out of the gutter should go straight in the bucket so you can dispose of everything properly.

Brush Off Old Paint - Certain gutters, like cast-iron gutters, will have been painted when installed. Over time, they can get rusted and require cleaning, repairing & repainting. Products like emery cloth, sand paper or wire brushes can rub off old flaky paint, rust and other materials so you can repair any holes and repaint the guttering.

Fix Holes - After cleaning your guttering, should they need it, you might find holes that are creating leaks. Roof & gutter sealant can help sort out smaller holes and cracks in your gutters. For anything bigger, gutter repair tape is a great option for repairing holes.

It's important to clear your gutters once or twice a year to prevent blockages as well as water damage. If you can't clear or repair your gutters yourself or if you would prefer a professional to do it instead, you can hire a tradesperson to do the job for you.

Get in Touch

For any questions regarding gutter cleaning or repairing tools, ladders or pressure washers, get in touch with one of our live chat experts who are happy to help or contact your local HSS branch.

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