Gutter Cleaning & Repairs in Eastbourne, East Sussex

Why gutters matter more than they look

A gutter has one job, which is to catch the water off the roof and take it away from the building. When it blocks, sags or leaks, that water runs down the wall instead, and a wet wall is behind a large share of the damp, spoiled plaster, perished pointing and rotten timber we are called out to.

We clear, realign, repair and replace gutters, downpipes, hoppers and gullies on houses, flats and commercial buildings across East Sussex, in plastic, aluminium and cast iron. We also fix the things that cause repeat blockages, such as missing guards, badly set falls and joints that were never seated correctly.

It is one of the cheapest pieces of maintenance there is and one of the most often skipped, usually because nobody wants to get up a ladder to look. Doing it once a year costs very little compared with repointing a wall that has been soaked for three winters.

If you are a landlord or agent, we can clear on a regular cycle and report back with photographs so there is a record on the property file.

What a blocked gutter costs you

Water overflowing a gutter soaks the same strip of wall every time it rains. The brickwork stays saturated, the pointing softens and washes out, damp shows on the inside face, and any timber near it starts to rot.

Overflowing water also runs back under the roof edge, wetting fascia boards, rafter feet and roof timbers where nobody sees it. Replacing a rotten fascia and rafter ends costs many times more than clearing the gutter would have.

Blockages here are mostly leaves, moss washed off the roof, and nesting material. Coastal wind piles debris into valleys and gutter runs quickly, and once water is standing, moss and silt build up and hold it.

On a flat roof a blocked outlet is worse still, because the water has nowhere to spill and ponds on the covering instead, adding weight and finding every weak joint.

What we do about it

We clear the whole run rather than the obvious blockage, including downpipes, hoppers and the gully at the bottom, because a clear gutter feeding a blocked drain still overflows.

Then we check the gutter is actually working. We look at the falls, the brackets, the joints and the alignment, and we test it with water rather than assuming. Sagging runs and joints that drip get repaired or refixed.

If the cause is going to keep happening, we will say so and suggest what stops it: guards on runs under trees, extra brackets on a sagging length, or replacing a section that has gone brittle. We take the debris away with us.

Where overflowing water has already damaged pointing, render or internal plaster, we can price putting that right at the same time.

Clearing and flushing

Gutters, valleys, downpipes, hoppers and external gullies cleared and flushed through, then tested with water so we know the whole run drains rather than just looks clear.

Leaks and realignment

Resealing and replacing joints, unions and brackets that drip, and correcting falls on sagging runs so water reaches the outlet instead of standing in the middle and spilling over the front edge.

Replacement rainwater goods

New gutters and downpipes in plastic and aluminium, sized and set for the roof area, plus repairs and section replacement in cast iron on period and listed property.

Guards and prevention

Mesh and guards fitted where trees or roof moss cause repeat blockages, and extra brackets where a run has dropped. Cheaper than clearing the same gutter twice a year forever.

Fascia, soffit and roof edge

Repairing or replacing the boards and rafter ends behind the guttering where water has already got at them. See fascia, soffit and guttering.

Damage repair

Putting right what the overflow has spoiled: repointing, render repairs, internal plaster and decoration, through our plastering and rendering and decorating.

How often gutters need clearing around here

A sensible routine for most East Sussex properties looks like this.

Once a year as a minimum. Late autumn, once the leaves are down, is the best single time to do it.
Twice a year if there are trees close by. Also if the roof carries heavy moss, or if there is a valley gutter that collects debris.
After any gale. Storms strip moss off roofs and move a lot of debris into gutters at once, so a run that was clear in November can be blocked by February.
More often on flat roofs. Outlets and internal downpipes block easily and the consequence is ponding rather than spilling.
Watch it while it rains. The easiest check of all. Stand outside during heavy rain and look for water coming over the front edge or running down a wall.

If you cannot get up to look, send us a photo from the ground and we will tell you if it is worth a visit.

Rainwater on coastal and older buildings

Guttering has a harder life on this coast than most people expect. Wind drives leaves and moss into runs and valleys far faster than in a sheltered inland town, and gusts off the Channel lift and rack long lengths of plastic guttering until the joints start to weep.

Older housing adds two more issues. Victorian and Edwardian houses in Eastbourne and Hastings often have long runs served by a single downpipe and outlet, which was adequate for the rainfall patterns of the time and struggles with the heavy short bursts we now get. Adding an outlet is often the real fix rather than clearing more often.

Many of those houses also still have cast iron guttering, and where it is sound it is worth keeping. It looks right on a period building, it is far stronger than plastic, and on listed property or in a conservation area replacing it with plastic may not be permitted at all. It needs descaling, treating and painting rather than replacing.

Blocks of flats and commercial buildings usually need more attention rather than less, because flat roof outlets and internal downpipes block more easily and a failure affects several occupiers at once. We work for a number of managing agents on exactly this, as covered on our who we work with page.

Questions we get asked

How much does gutter cleaning cost?

It depends on the size and height of the building and how much access is needed, which is why we look or ask for a photo first. A standard terraced or semi detached house is a straightforward job. A three storey building, a flat roof with internal outlets, or a run that can only be reached over a conservatory takes longer and needs different access. You get the price in writing before we start.

How often should gutters be cleared?

Once a year suits most properties in East Sussex, ideally in late autumn after leaf fall. Twice a year is sensible if there are trees close by, heavy moss on the roof, or a valley gutter. It is also worth checking after any big storm, because gales move a lot of debris into gutters at once.

My gutter overflows even though it looks clear. Why?

Usually the fall is wrong or the run has sagged, so water sits in the middle and spills over the front edge instead of running to the outlet. It can also be a blocked downpipe or gully further along, or too few outlets for the roof area. We test with water to find out which it is rather than guessing.

Can you repair cast iron guttering?

Yes. Cast iron is worth keeping where it is sound, particularly on period and listed property where plastic would look wrong and may not be permitted. We can descale, treat, repair joints and replace individual sections. Where it has cracked through or corroded badly, we will tell you honestly what is repairable.

Will you fix the damage the overflow has caused?

Yes. Once the guttering is working we can repoint the affected brickwork, repair render, treat and replace rotten timber and put the internal plaster and decoration right. We price the gutter work and the making good separately so you can see both.

Do you offer regular gutter maintenance for landlords?

Yes. We clear gutters on a regular cycle for landlords, letting agents and managing agents across East Sussex, and we can report back with photographs after each visit so there is a record for the property file.

Are gutter guards worth fitting?

They are where the cause is leaves or roof moss, and they can pay for themselves in a couple of visits. They are not a substitute for ever looking again, because fine debris still gets through and guards themselves can clog. On a run under trees they make a real difference; on a clear elevation they are rarely necessary.

Can you clear gutters on a three storey building or a block?

Yes. Higher buildings need safe access: a tower, a mobile platform or scaffold, and we price that separately so you can see it. For blocks we can also programme the work with the managing agent and notify residents where access affects them.

Where we work

We are based on Hyde Gardens in Eastbourne, so the town and the villages around it are home ground for us. We are out working here most days and we know the housing well, including the older seafront terraces, the Victorian and Edwardian houses in Upperton and Meads, and the newer estates and blocks of flats nearer the edge of town.

From Eastbourne we cover the whole of East Sussex. Along the coast that takes in Bexhill, Hastings, Seaford, Newhaven, Brighton, where salt air and driving rain are hard on any building. Inland we work regularly in Polegate, Hailsham, Pevensey, Willingdon, Lewes, Uckfield, Heathfield, Crowborough, Battle and the smaller villages between them, where period cottages and country properties often need a gentler approach and older materials matched carefully.

Being local matters for gutter cleaning and repairs. We can get to you quickly to take a look, we know the buildings and the ground conditions, and we are never far away if you need us again. If your village is not on the list there is a good chance we still reach you, so give us a call on 01323 671001 and we will tell you either way.

Backed by recognised standards

We are Gas Safe registered and members of the Federation of Master Builders, NAPIT and the FSB. Those memberships mean our gas, electrical and building work is measured against recognised standards, and that an outside body has looked at how we work rather than us simply saying we are good at it. For a family business our reputation matters more than anything, and we have built it one customer at a time.

Gutter Cleaning & Repairs