As summer fades and the trees start to turn, guttering is probably the last thing on your mind. But September is actually one of the best times to get your gutters checked and cleared, before the leaves fall in earnest and the rain sets in for winter. At Dexters Build, we see the damage that blocked gutters cause every year, and most of it is completely avoidable.
What a Blocked Gutter Actually Does to Your Home
It is easy to think of a blocked gutter as a minor nuisance. Water spills over the edge, it looks a bit untidy, and that is about it. In reality, the consequences can be far more serious than that.
When gutters overflow consistently, water runs straight down the outside of your walls. Over time, this soaks into the brickwork and causes damp patches inside your home. Left untreated, that damp spreads, and it becomes expensive to put right. Our damp proofing work often starts with a conversation about gutters that were left blocked for too long.
The water that sits in a clogged gutter also rots the timber behind it. Fascias and soffits take the brunt of this, and once they start to rot they need replacing rather than just cleaning. That adds cost that a simple gutter clear could have prevented.
There is also the question of foundations. Water pooling at the base of your walls from overflowing gutters can work its way down over time, particularly on older properties. And when winter arrives, any water sitting in a blocked gutter will freeze. Ice expands, and that pressure can crack or pull the guttering away from the fascia altogether.
How to Spot the Signs from the Ground
You do not need to climb a ladder to get a rough idea of whether your gutters are struggling. Stand back from your property on a rainy day and look for water spilling over the sides rather than flowing to the downpipe. Staining or green algae marks on the walls beneath the gutterline are another giveaway. Sagging sections of guttering or visible plant growth in the channel are also clear signs that something needs attention.
If you can see any of these things from the pavement, it is worth getting someone up there to take a proper look.
Why September Is the Right Month
The timing matters. Clear your gutters too early in autumn and they will simply fill up again as the leaves fall through October and November. Leave it too late and you risk heading into winter with gutters that are already blocked and full of standing water.
September sits in a useful window. Most of the summer debris, moss and seed pods have had time to settle, and the main leaf fall has not yet begun. Getting the gutters checked and cleared now means you are prepared before the worst of the autumn weather arrives. It also gives a roofer the chance to have a look at the roof at the same time, which is always worthwhile before the colder months set in. Our roof maintenance service is popular in September for exactly this reason.
Why You Should Not Do It Yourself
We understand the temptation to drag a ladder out of the garage and sort it yourself. But working at height is genuinely risky, and guttering runs around the full perimeter of a property, which means a lot of ladder repositioning on uneven ground. Falls from ladders cause serious injuries every year in the UK, and no blocked gutter is worth that.
A professional will also spot things you might miss, such as cracked joints, sections pulling away from the fascia, or a downpipe that is blocked lower down and causing a backlog.
When Guttering Needs Replacing Rather Than Clearing
Sometimes a clean is not enough. If your guttering is cracked, sagging badly, or pulling away from the roofline, it may be time for new sections or a full replacement. We can advise you honestly when we are up there. There is no point clearing a gutter that is going to let you down in the first winter storm.
You can find out more about our full guttering service, as well as our dedicated gutter cleaning service, on our website.
Covering Bedfordshire and Beyond
We work with homeowners across Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire. Whether you are in Bedford, Luton, Leighton Buzzard or a village in between, we are local and we know the area well. The mix of older terraced properties and newer housing estates across Bedfordshire means guttering setups vary a lot, and we are used to working with all of them.
Get a Free Quote from Dexters Build
If your gutters have not been looked at in a while, September is the ideal time to sort it. Dexters Build offers free, no-obligation quotes with no pressure and all our work is fully guaranteed. Give us a call on 07951 017425 or get in touch via our contact page and we will arrange a convenient time to come out and take a look.
