Why Does My Guttering Leak?

bj_of_bristol

I had all the guttering replaced about 6 months ago and every time it rains hard it leaks at the join over the master bedroom window and also at exactly the same place at the rear of the house. The company who fitted the guttering claim this is because my neighbours did not have their guttering replaced (semi-detached) and that their guttering is full of soil etc. I have called them out several times and I have seen them actually clean out my neighbours guttering, but the next time it rained hard it gushed down over my bedroom window again. A couple of months ago after a few days of rain I actually went up a ladder and the guttering was full of water and was not flowing to the down pipe. I explained this to the owner of the guttering company who said he would send someone out to fix it, but once again when it rains hard its the same old drip drip drip sound which is a nightmare when you are in bed trying to sleep.

What I would like to ask is has anyone had similar problems with their guttering and have I been ripped off, especially as I paid £950.00.

latecomer

If the water is pooling in one section then presumably its the lowest point?

bj_of_bristol

hi latecomer

the join is approximately 3/4 over form the edge of the house at both the front and the back of the house. Strange that it leaks at that point. Then the guttering from the join to my neighbours guttering is empty and that is where the down pipe is on both sides. I recon its not fitted correctly but the company just give me excuses.

markie1980

If water is pooling more than a few mm deep in any part of the gutter without there being a blockage then the guttering is not fitted correctly.

No if's or but's - the lowest part of the guttering should be at the downpipes and there should be a gentle fall towards them with no dips.

Does the water actually drip through the joint or does it overflow at that point?

Is the water running down the downpipes freely?

maninthestreet

Guttering requires a drop of 1cm for 6m of length.

27col

If the water is over topping the guttering then it can only be due to bad fitting.ie: not having the correct fall. It is always a good idea to have your own downpipe and not to have to rely on the fall of the guttering on next doors property. A photo of the layout would be helpful.

bj_of_bristol

Hi all thanks for your replies yesterday.

markie1980 - when I checked the guttering a couple of months ago the water depth was about 3/4 cm up to the join, from there until the downpipe on my neighbours property it was empty. The water is definately overflowing behind the guttering onto the brickwork down to the window sil.

27col - I have tried adding a photo but cannot find a way to add it. From looking at the outside of the 2 properties it does not look as though there is much of a drop from right to left if any at all.

I am thinking of giving him one more call now that I have more information and if that is not successful possibly take him to a small claims court. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

bigdoozer

Often the replacement gutters are of a smaller capacity than the originals, and if so they can not take large amounts of water when it rains. Most gutters are 4" wide, but cheaper ones are often not deep enough. Worth checking. Supplier may have used cheaper option???

Steve_xx

bj_of_bristol wrote: »

Hi all thanks for your replies yesterday.

markie1980 - when I checked the guttering a couple of months ago the water depth was about 3/4 cm up to the join, from there until the downpipe on my neighbours property it was empty. The water is definately overflowing behind the guttering onto the brickwork down to the window sil.

27col - I have tried adding a photo but cannot find a way to add it. From looking at the outside of the 2 properties it does not look as though there is much of a drop from right to left if any at all.

I am thinking of giving him one more call now that I have more information and if that is not successful possibly take him to a small claims court. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

You saying that water is flowing down the wall would suggest to me that the edges of your rooftiles are not positioned over the guttering, ie the rooftiles are stopping short of the guttering so that rainwater is running behind the gutters.

By the way you will not easily notice the drop from right to left as it generally isn't that pronounced.

You mentioned the small claims court and this will be an option if the contractor fails to remedy the problem. However, if you paid for it by credit card you would have some redress to the credit card company and that would be an easier route for you to take than the small claims court.

bj_of_bristol

Hi Steve_xx when I went up the ladder and had a look I could see a moulded sheet which had been placed under the roof tiles and overhangs into the guttering. Hopefully this would stop the rain coming down the wall.

Unfortunately as happens O so often in these type of jobs I paid cash. However I do not think he is a cowboy as he has adverts in the Yellow pages, Thompsons Directory, etc.

Steve_xx

bj_of_bristol wrote: »

Hi Steve_xx when I went up the ladder and had a look I could see a moulded sheet which had been placed under the roof tiles and overhangs into the guttering. Hopefully this would stop the rain coming down the wall.

Unfortunately as happens O so often in these type of jobs I paid cash. However I do not think he is a cowboy as he has adverts in the Yellow pages, Thompsons Directory, etc.

Ah yes, roofing felt is directing the rain into the gutter. Thta sounds ok to me.

Your next job is to get up there with a hosepipe and direct it at the opposite end of the gutter to where your downpipe is. Hopefully you will be able to see if the water is pooling anywhere along the gutter and then overflowing and running down your walls. If this is the case you will then be able to tell the fixers where the gutter want resetting/tilting.