Defective and broken guttering can cause serious problems to property, causing dampness, mildew and decorative defects. Until fairly recently, rainwater drainage systems were composed of metal and/or concrete pipe. Today, however, plastic guttering and downpipes are the norm, making repairs easy.
Just as with plastic sheeting and fascias, plastic guttering comes in all sizes and forms – including traditional cast iron guttering ranges, such as the one we at Bliby Plastics have on our site. Unlike the real thing, it is light to lift and easy to fit.
The best time to replace your guttering is after the leaves have fallen, around about November. This is also when you’re most likely to know something needs doing, as it will have rained a bit by then, and lower temperatures open up cracks in drainage pipes, especially if they’re the metal sort.
Even though plastic guttering is light, you still need to be safe while handling it. Make sure you position the ladder correctly, and don’t tackle the job alone – do it as a team of two. Even plastic can become unwieldy when you’re carrying long lengths up a ladder. If you have decided to replace the entire rainwater drainage system, or are working quite high up, it may be worth hiring a portable tower scaffold.
Gutters can become blocked with all kinds of debris. A build-up of rubbish can breach the top of the gutter, creating the illusion of a leak where there isn’t one. So don’t replace your guttering until you’ve given it a thorough clear out, and wait for some rain to see if the problem persists.
