When it comes to maintaining your property, looking after the gutters can often fall to the bottom of the list. However, they are an essential element of keeping a building dry, directing water away to prevent leaks. Having leaking gutters is not only an inconvenience, but it can even cause major structural problems if it isn’t addressed in time.

Read on as we discuss what’s behind the leak and how to get it fixed.

What is causing the leak?

As with many roofing problems, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer for the cause of a leaking gutter. That said, it’s usually down to one of a few natural or structural factors.

The most common source of gutter leaks is a blockage, which can be caused by an accumulation of twigs, moss, leaves or general debris. These build up over time and cause water to spill over the edges of your gutters as it can’t flow freely past the blockage and down the drain.

Alternatively, it could be down to structural causes like a crack or break in the gutter’s material. That simply allows water to leak out as it flows over the crack. Leaks can also be caused by poor alignment, where the gutters don’t run true, leaving gaps between two pieces where water can escape.

Problems caused by leaking gutters

If your guttering doesn’t direct water away from your house, you could risk damage to your walls or foundations. Water running down the walls can damage your pointing and lead to water ingress, damp and mould.

Even worse, it could pool at the base of your home and cause damage to the foundations. Given that this could cost thousands to repair, compared to mere hundreds to get your gutters fixed, it’s clear that gutter repairs are the most cost-effective option.

How to fix leaking gutters

If your gutters are leaking, don’t try and investigate the issue yourself. Instead, you can determine the cause by getting a professional roofer to safely examine them. They will check for any blockages that may be causing water to run into the house instead of properly through the gutter and clear any build-up that is present.

Even if a blockage isn’t the cause, it is still recommended that gutters are cleaned out at least twice a year, once in Spring or Summer and once in Autumn or Winter to get rid of any debris and minimise the chance of them becoming clogged up in future.

Structural issues

If a build-up or blockage isn’t behind the issue, your roofer can check to see if any structural damage has occurred which has led to the leak. Damage such as any separation between sections of the guttering, cracks or splitting in the material are often at the root of the problem.

However, if the guttering was not installed correctly, or the gutter was installed many years ago and has become weakened with age, poor alignment can also prevent water flowing in the right direction and cause leaks to occur. After a specific type of damage has been identified, your roofer can then determine which parts need to be fixed, replaced or realigned and correct the issues.

Gutter maintenance and repairs in Wakefield

If you’ve noticed a leak, or you want to make sure your gutters are maintained properly, speak to the team at DPR Roofing. We provide dedicated guttering services throughout Wakefield, including both repair and clearance, so you can eliminate any issues and prevent them from reoccurring.