There are now many more types and styles of guttering available mainly because of the final look they have on the house design so choosing the right one for your house is very important.
Guttering is available in many different materials as well as the different styles which can complement different styles of home. For example on an older styled house you may want to use iron guttering where as on a new home you could use finished aluminium guttering.
Below is some more information on the process taken to install guttering and also styles of guttering made from different materials.
Guttering Choices
There are many different types of material now used for guttering on peoples homes depending on the final look of the exterior of their home they want.
This is because with each style of house there is a type of guttering that will suit that style for the older styles there are options such as Plastic Guttering that has a certain finish that matches the exterior design.
With more modern styled homes there are various shapes of the PVC guttering that are very popular because they give the finish they desire as well as being fairly inexpensive.
For the contemporary designs on extremely modern houses there are many people that use materials such as finished aluminium this is because this gives a very clean, modern finish to the house as a whole.
Installing Guttering
When installing guttering on your home you should be sure you know exactly what you are doing and what you will require to carry the work out.
Many guttering systems come in easy to assemble pieces that simply clip together especially the ones that are designed for DIY assembly. However more extravagant designs may need to be fitted by a drainage professional to ensure they are put up correctly.
If installing guttering yourself then you should be aware there needs to be a slope in the direction the guttering is fitted towards the down pipe to ensure water flows out correctly.
You should also plan carefully where each piece of guttering will be fitted before placing them so you make no mistakes when taking the pieces up to be fitted.
Cleaning Guttering
When cleaning guttering you should take great care obviously as you will be working at height and be sure exactly what you are doing so not to damage the guttering.
Here are some steps to follow when cleaning guttering:
- Place your ladder along side the guttering not resting against it as this could break or bend the guttering.
- When you have gained access you can simply start cleaning guttering by pulling out the leaves and debris with your hands and placing it in a bag or bucket on the roof. With dried on debris you should wet and remove it with a hand trowel or spoon.
- Once cleared you can check whether the down pipe is clogged by putting a hose down. Take care as the down pipe is not as strong as regular drains. If the down pipe does not un-clog by using a hose pipe you should try a plumbers snake, or you could also use an un-bent wire clothes hanger, again being extremely careful.
- When completed use the hose pipe to finish cleaning guttering, whilst doing this last step you can also make sure there are no leaks in the Guttering Pipe.
To find out about more about DIY Drainage Maintenance visit the DIY Maintenance page.
If you are un-sure of any of cleaning guttering processes above you should get a professional to carry the work out for you.
This is mainly because of the health and safety factors of you working at such heights but also if you are unsure you could ruin the final result of the guttering or end up with faults that would require a professional to fix them for you.