Gutters are an important part of the roof. They capture the water flowing off the roof, and channel the water to the downpipe to be drained away from your house without causing any water damage to your roof or walls of the home and without having the water flowing off the roof flood the perimeter of your property.

Gutters are prone to blockages. Leaves or other debris can collect in the gutter and stop the flow of water, causing the water to spill back onto the roof and risk seeping through into the home. So it is vital to have a gutter system that is in good working order, regularly maintained and connected to the downpipes.

How often do gutters need replacing?

Depending on what material your gutters are, will depend on the lifespan you can expect from them. The most common gutter material is plastic long lasting PVC gutters that will last about 30 years. Another common gutter material is aluminium which is tough and light weight and can out last PVC. Galvanised steel gutters have a general lifespan of 15 - 20 years. Despite them coated in rust resistance coating, over time the oxidation will eat through the gutters leaving them pinholed. More expensive copper gutters will last 50 years. Old fashion period homes may have cast iron gutters, these last over a 100 years and will add greatly to the character of the home or listed building.

If you notice that your gutters are;

• cracked, split or pinholed where you can see water seeping through from underneath
• overflowing with water
• sagging
• showing signs of water damage underneath the gutter

 …then it is time to call in the roofer to replace your gutters. Most newbuilds tend to favour plastic PVC gutters as they are the cheapest to source and easy to fit. They come in a few colour choices so they can be matched to the style of the house and the builder constructing the newbuilds is confident that they will last beyond the NHBC warranty. 

Aluminium gutters will add more character to a property, so when replacing your gutters go for a material that will best suit your home and your budget.

Can I replace just a section of guttering?

Yes, rather than replacing an entire wall of gutters, if one section has been damaged, perhaps a fallen tree or it seemed less durable than the rest of the home's gutters, then it is possible to only replace that section of gutter.

If the original gutter is a few years old, therefore sun faded, the new section may not be an exact colour match, but it should not be too noticeable. If it is a section of plastic guttering that is already nearly 20 years old, it may be worth asking the roofer to quote you for a full replacement, as it is only a matter of time before you will have to replace the rest of the gutters. Keeping gutters free of debris, by having an annual clean, will always prolong the life of the gutters.

How much will it cost to replace the gutters?

Replacing guttering will be dependant on the type of material you choose (plastic uPVC at £40 per metre is cheaper than a cast iron gutter at more than £100 per metre) the amount of guttering needed due to the size of your house and the pitch of the roof, whether scaffolding is needed based on the height of the house and then of course, skilled labour costs for the roofer who may need anywhere from 1 day to 3 days labour.

Replacing the gutters may reveal additional work needing replacing. It may show the fascia board too weak to hold the new gutter and also needing replacing, which again will add to labour costs as well as additional materials. When replacing the gutters, new support posts / brackets should be drilled into the house to hold the weight of the gutters combined with rainwater rather than trying to place new gutters on to old brittle support brackets.

Cost to replace gutters	Per	Average total labour cost
Replacing 2 walls of gutters on a bungalow	Per day	£380
Replacing 2 walls of gutters on a terraced house	Per day	£300
Repairing a section of gutter or downpipe	Per hour	£90
Replacing a gutter support bracket or a gutter cap end	Per hour	£90

Should I replace or repair my gutters?

Depending on the visible issue of the gutter they may be able to just be repaired rather than going to the expense of replacing the gutters.

Sagging gutters could be a damaged support bracket that connects the gutter to the house, and replacing the post may solve the issue.

A pinhole or small crack in a gutter could be a 'patch' repair. This may involve using a sealant to waterproof the crack or small hole.

Of course, as previously mentioned, it is possible to always switch out and replace a small section of gutter, rather than replacing an entire wall of gutters.

If the gutters are often detaching from the fascia or the cracks are too big and weather over time has made the gutter brittle, then a full replacement will be best. If the gutters are constantly overflowing, despite being free from debris, this may mean the diameter of the gutter channel is too narrow to handle the amount of rain in your area and the gutters should be replaced for a wider and more efficient gutters.

Do I need gutters around my entire house?

A home needs gutters and downpipes. The amount will vary based on the pitch of your roof on all four sides, and if you have Dorma windows or roofs joining creating valleys, likely to flow more water down the gulley ways. If you have a traditional roof that slants up on side and down the other side, the two sides of the roof slants, will need guttering. So in that instance only two of your four walls will have gutters.

If you have a flat roof, where there is a slight inclination on one side, only the lowest side of the four walls will need a gutter.

The walls that have guttering above, each of those walls will have at least one downpipe coming down from the gutter. If you live in a terraced house, you and your neighbour will share a section of guttering that runs over both your homes and only one of you might have the downpipe for that side of the house.

So really, gutters around your entire house depends on the size of your house, as well as how many slopes or pitches you have on the roof.

Estimates for common roofer jobs;

Rates for other trades