If your gutters aren’t doing their job properly, poor alignment may well be the root cause. Realignment is a relatively simple process which can put that right. Read on as we discuss how it’s done.
Types of gutter realignment
The first step for any gutter realignment is to determine what exactly is wrong with your gutters. In most cases, it will be one of three issues:
- Gutters with an incorrect slope – This is where the slope or fall of your gutters is too steep, too level or uneven, meaning water doesn’t flow at the correct rate.
- Sagging gutters – Parts of your guttering have sagged over time due to excessive pressure from rainwater or debris, or insufficient support from the brackets holding the gutters in place.
- Loose gutters – Gutters can also come loose from your roof or walls, which allows water to bypass them as it comes off the roof.
Incorrect slope
To realign your guttering system with the correct slope, the gutters will need to be removed, along with the brackets that hold them in place. Gutters should have an even slope of around 1cm for every 3.5 metres of their length. That’s roughly a third of an inch for every 10 feet, or a gradient of around 1:350.
Once the right slope has been calculated and marked out, the brackets should be reattached and gutters repositioned. A water flow test can be performed to check that the realigned gutters are working properly.
Sagging gutters
Sagging occurs when too much pressure is placed on a section of your guttering. That could be down to debris like leaves, twigs or moss, which falls off your roof and becomes heavy when it soaks up rainwater. If that’s the case, you’ll need to replace the damaged section and keep on top of gutter clearance going forward.
Alternatively, it could happen because of a lack of support from the brackets. Gutter brackets should be spaced evenly apart with a gap of around 60cm to a metre. Anything more could put too much pressure on the part of your gutter furthest from the bracket, leading to sagging. To combat this problem, brackets will need to be removed and realigned with proper spacing.
Loose gutters
Finally, there’s the problem of gutters coming away from your walls. When this happens, it leaves a gap for rainwater to fall through, potentially rendering your gutters redundant.
The key question here is ‘why has it happened?’ In some cases, gutters will become loose because the rate of water flow off the roof is too heavy for them to cope with. If that’s the case, you’ll need bigger gutters that are proportionate to the size and slope of your roof.
On the other hand, and perhaps more commonly, it could be that the fittings holding your guttering in place have worn down over time. A simple realignment with new brackets and nails or even fresh fascia boards will combat the problem.
Gutter realignment in Wakefield
If your gutters are loose, sagging or poorly sloped, DPR Roofing can help. We provide professional guttering services, including realignment and repair to get them up and running, along with gutter clearance to avoid any issues with debris build-up.
We’ve been providing our services to both domestic and commercial customers across Wakefield for over 30 years. To join our long list of happy customers, simply get in touch on 01924 255 677 or email [email protected], and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.