How to Keep Your Gutters Free of Leaves

Leaves and Gutters – Reducing the Build Up

There are a lot of great reasons to surround your home with leafy, deciduous trees. They look great, can provide shade for your home during summer, give you greater privacy and increase the value of your land and home. The only real downside is the potential structural damage that comes with leaves falling on your roof and into your gutters.

Not Simply an Aesthetic Problem

The huge volume of leaves that can drop won’t just leave your yard and roof looking messy; they can cause bigger problems as well. From the ground, it can be hard to assess how many leaves have actually fallen on your roof and, more importantly, how many have washed into your gutters along with twigs and other matter. The combination of water, weighty leaves and gradual decomposition can turn this litter into quite a solid mass. This mass will severely restrict the capacity of your gutters to carry water during even moderate rain. The result is overflowing gutters that can lead to flooded ceilings, damaged roof timbers and water running down internal walls.

Don’t go reaching for a chainsaw just yet – there are less drastic solutions to the problem of leaf litter.

Regular Cleaning and Maintenance

The simplest way around this problem is to regularly clean and maintain your gutters, especially throughout autumn and during storm season. Ensure you wear protective gloves and use a well-secured extension ladder to access your metal gutters. Use a plastic scoop to shovel out the leaves and other debris from your gutters. You’ll need to move the ladder often as you work your way along – if you need to lean to reach leaves and debris, you’ll be in danger of falling or overbalancing the ladder.

After getting all of the debris you can with the scoop, flush the gutters thoroughly with a garden hose. If any of your metal downspouts are clogged, break up the offending material with a plumber’s snake fed down through the opening in the gutter. You can prevent this happening in future by affixing wire leaf strainers at the top of each spout to stop leaves and twigs entering.

Repair Any Damage

Once the guttering and downpipes are fully cleaned, allow them to dry thoroughly, then you can inspect for damage and rust. Rust spots and holes can be mended but we recommend hiring a professional to ensure the repairs are done correctly to avoid any future reoccurring issues.

Trim Back Your Trees

In addition to cleaning and maintenance, selectively trimming back branches of trees can minimise leaf litter, making your job easier. By hiring professional arborists to undertake this job, you can ensure your trees aren’t damaged in the process and still maintain their shady and privacy benefits.

If you need supplies and accessories to repair your roof, contact the experts at Rollsec. Call 07 3041 4980 or submit an online enquiry today!