How Often Your Gutters Need Clearing In Kent

Gutters are the part of a roof people forget about until water is running down the wall. In Kent the answer to "how often?" depends almost entirely on what's above them.

Twice a year for most homes

Late autumn after the leaves have dropped, and again in spring. That second visit catches what the winter blew in — moss, grit from the tiles, and in Medway the seed casings that clog a downpipe outlet neatly and completely.

More often if you have trees

• Under a mature oak, ash or sycamore — three to four times a year
• Near pine or lime — those needles and small seeds travel and settle
• Directly under a mossy roof — moss shedding is often what blocks gutters, not leaves

The signs it's already overdue

• Water running down the brickwork or fascia in heavy rain
• Plants growing out of the gutter — that's a fully established blockage, not a small one
• Staining or a damp patch at the top of an internal wall
• The gutter visibly sagging or pulling away from the fascia

Ask them to check the downpipes

A gutter can look clear while the downpipe below it is solid. On any job worth doing, the downpipes should be run water down and confirmed flowing — not just the gutter scooped out. If a firm clears the gutter and leaves without testing the downpipe, you've had half a job.

Cleaning versus replacing

uPVC gutters last around 20 years. If yours are leaking at the joints, cracked, or the brackets have pulled away from rot behind them, cleaning will not fix it — the fascia underneath is usually the real problem. We'll tell you honestly which one you're dealing with rather than clearing a gutter that needs replacing.