A guide of the process of hiring a tradesman to repair your guttering, including the costs of labour and materials.
Gutter repair jobs take on various forms. In some homes, it is simply patching an area, while in others it can be as much as replacing an entire portion of the home’s guttering system.
Repair jobs are essential if damage is noticed. Not only for properly waterflow and drainage, but also to avoid clogging, leaves piling up, or having the entire gutter system fail in the near future. When repairs are necessary, these are a few things homeowners should bear in mind as it pertains to the repair service needs.
This depends, and is a case by case assessment done on each home. In some homes, it is removing build-up of leaves, which are causing clogging in the gutters. In other homes, it might mean removing a portion of the gutter, stabilising it, and replacing it.
Leaks are another common repair job. With these tasks, simply adding a rubber bearing/cast will help plug the leaking portion of the gutter. This will also help stop progression of leaks or movement in the joints, if you plan on replacing the entire gutter system in the near future.
Depending on the severity of damage, and amount of guttering which requires repair, the tasks which will be undertaken when performing repair work will vary in every home.
When repairing, you might as well have the gutters cleaned. Leaves pile up over time, rainwater builds up and might cause rust, or even small items like nuts, twigs, or branches, can cause dirty/damage gutters. When repairing the gutters, it is also a good idea to have them professionally cleaned.
Some homeowners might consider having the plumbing system checked out, or consider having work done to the fascia/siding of the home. If you choose to do so, it is a good idea to hire a contractor who specialises in all areas of siding/gutter/plumbing work. It will reduce the overall cost of services, and also allow one specialist to perform all services at the same time.
One of the main issues to consider with repair work, is that it won’t fix the issue. In some instances, you have to replace the gutters. If they are extremely dated, falling apart, or if there are leaks throughout, repairs usually aren’t going to be the solution you require.
Overflow or clogging is another major area of concern. If the gutters aren’t working as they should, because of the damage, a clog can potentially lead to a major leak, which will end up causing water damage to the roof/interior of the home. If shoddy repair work is performed, this is a major area of concern homeowners must consider. For such reasons, it is worth hiring a professional, as opposed to attempting a simple DIY fix yourself.
Bacterial build-up is yet another concern. Animal droppings, pools of rainwater, and even leaves clogging the gutters, are a home for bacterial buildup. If repairs aren’t performed in a timely fashion, this can potentially lead to mould, mildew, or other damage to the home’s exterior/interior surfaces.
In general, you can expect to pay £150 for labour/per day with most contractors. Then, depending on the actual repair to be done, additional costs might arise.
Something like fixing a minor leak might run £100. With major replacement, or installing additional railing/guttering lines, you might incur costs of £250 and higher. Cleaning, waste removal, and similar jobs typically run £50 or below.
Most of these jobs will typically take 2 to 4 hours to complete.
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Here is a list of commonly asked questions in regards to having a gutter repaired.
More often than not, homeowners will be happy to learn that repairs are typically a viable solution. For issues like clogging, cleanup work, or repairing a leak, you shouldn’t replace the entire gutter system.
It is also important to consider the age of the home and gutters. If they are 15, 20, or even 30 years old (or older), it might be time to consider investing in replacement gutters, rather than simple repair jobs.
If you have an extremely tall home/property, it is highly advised to hire professionals. Otherwise, for simple tasks like cleaning, or even applying a rubber putty for a small leak, some owners might have the resources to do this task.
Even if you believe you can do the work, you should consider getting a quote from a professional. For these simple tasks, their rates are fairly low, and you don’t have to deal with the headache of possibly doing something wrong, and making matters worse, by performing a DIY repair yourself.
Something as simple as moving a shifted gutter might cost £50. Cleanup is also relatively cheap; even patching a minor leak shouldn’t cost more than £75. However, major repairs can add up in cost. And, of course every contractor will charge varying rates for labour, and daily fees. So, it is best to compare prices and quotes, to find the most affordable rates for necessary repair work.
Again, this is going to depend on the type of repairs, the size of the home, and whether or not additional replacement is required. In most cases, repair jobs typically take less than 1 day to complete, for a professional contractor. However, if doing major leak repair, on a two-story home, this might take a few days to complete.
Depending on the size of the job, and the number of laborourers who will be performing such repair services, duration for repairs can vary.
In most cases yes. However, leaks might be causing backups. Therefore, only a professional who diagnoses the damage, will be able to properly inform you of the required repair work, and how much work actually has to be performed, in order to ensure your gutters are properly functioning.
