Although all our homes come equipped with gutters and downpipes so the rain water
can be transported away from the property, sometimes during particularly heavy downpours this water may hang around and seep into the house causing untold damage.
It is up to us to do regular inspections on these pipes and gutters to make sure there are no blockages and they are working as they should otherwise the cost of repairs to the home could be a major headache. During these yearly inspections always be aware of the safety aspect required, falling from and ladders and roof tops is a very serious and all too common occurrence.
In the past pipes were made from galvanized iron profiles which were made to set lengths, nowadays these pipes are made from either continuous length Zincalume steel or Colorbond aluminum. Plastic is also an option but can be affected by UV rays more than Zincalume or Colorbond Aluminum.
It is a recommendation that the minimum gutter fall should be 1 in 500 to prevent pooling with the depth and width appropriate to your local rainfall conditions.
Most building supply centres stock aluminium guttering in pre cut lengths in various profiles for replacing any small sections of guttering around your home. If the entire house guttering it to be replaced, this is normally done onsite with specialist repair companies life Strong Life Gutters and roofing who can remove and replace your whole home guttering in less than a day.
If you live in a high rainfall area or you find groundwater pooling around your footings excessively, placing a gutter channel or agricultural drain will help to alleviate the problem of water damaging your foundations and leaking to the inside of your home. Usually this drain would measure 200mm wide x 600 900mm deep with a covering of screened gravel to a depth of approximately 100mm below the surface. Adding shade cloth on top of this gravel helps to prevent soil from leaking through.
Please note, that if you intend to fix your guttering yourself to work safely. In can be dangerous working off ladders, particularly if there has been recent rainfall and your guttering and surrounding areas are still wet. In the long run it if often safer and cheaper for you to contact a roofing professional, like the experts at Strong Life Gutters and Roofing, to give you advice and help install the best guttering solution for your home.