Find A Local Pro Near You
Get a free local estimate here....
Gutter Repairs & Installation Costs
Gutters & Their Purpose and Function
Gutters are the rain shoots and downpipes attached to your Fascia & Soffit directly underneath the end lip of your roof. Their specific purpose is to direct water and rainfall away from the roof and down to ground level where it can be directed into drains and soakaways. Without this, water will start building at the end of your roof and start causing other damage or alternatively non-directed rainfall builds and causes rot and dampness in the long run.
Life-span
You can expect properly installed gutters to last at least 25 years depending on what you install, how well it's installed and how exposed your property is to weather. Harder weather conditions can shorten its lifespan but you should still expect this approximate timeframe.
Why They Leak
Gutters can leak for a range of reasons but primarily they leak because of a build up of rainwater putting pressure on the joints and seals of the adjoining shoots. This is caused usually from heavy rain or both heavy rain and blocked gutters holding leaves, moss or debris etc.
Do My Leaking Gutters Need Replacement?
Difficult to answer but here is something to consider when asking the question? Without a professional seeing it, here are some questions to guide you in figuring out if you need to get someone to see them and give you an estimate.
- How old are my gutters? (if they are older than 20 years, the may need replacing)
- Do They Look Broken or Just Leaking? If they look in good condition but just leak from the joints and are not over 20 years old then its more likely that they can be repaired.
- Are There Any Section Missing Like Missing Clips or Joints? (If there are pieces missing then its more likely you will need to get them replaced.)
- Have you carried out any recent changes to the house? (Any changes to the building may create leaks due to the changes and the breaking and reconnecting of the joints)
The above things can impact if you need to repair or replace the gutters, most gutters just leak and can be repaired, or maybe are missing a clip and as result the water gathers in that specific section causing overflow. In the case of older homes with aged gutters, it can save you money to replace them if they are giving you regular problems. This often can minimise future damage to the roof.
How Often Should My Gutters Be Cleaned?
Like we mentioned earlier when it comes to your roof, the more proactive you are when it comes to its maintenance the more you save on money and hassle in the long term. Ideally you should get the gutters cleaned at-least once a year especially after winters that you’ve had a lot of storms and heavy rain.
Find A Local Pro Near You
Get a free local estimate here....
Types Of Gutters To Choose From:
When it comes to Irish homes, the majority of gutters and downpipes are PVC gutters which are made of plastic and come in a range of colours and sizes. Common colours are white, black and grey. This type of gutters are light and durable and can hold up to the weather we are accustomed to. The shapes can vary from half round to half octagon shape.
Depending on the style of your house and what you have already on there, will greatly depending on what is best to replace your current gutters with, for example, if you have cast-iron gutters on an older house, replacing them with PVC gutters maybe a cheaper option but may not suit your home, best to get professional advice before making any decisions.
Fascia & Soffits
We’ve written a separate section here for fascia and soffits but essentially fascia and soffits are part of your guttering system and because the gutters are attached to the fascia boards, when you are getting your gutters replaced, most times, this is replace as well because if your gutters need replacing most times the fascia and soffits will also and will have a similar expiry time in any house. See image below to explain.
Purpose
The purpose of the fascia and soffits are to cover the end rafters and seal your home between the upper walls and the roof. It covers and seals this joining and also provides a place to attach your gutters to.
Cost of Fascia & Soffits
The Average Cost of Replacing Fascia Soffit & Gutters on a 3 / 4 Bed Semi
The cost of fascia and soffit replacement is usually included in the cost of your gutters so see gutter costs above to get an approximate average of what to expect. You can assume when you need to get your gutters replaced you will in most cases need to get gutters, downpipes, fascia and soffits replaced at the same time and the costs above for gutters is an inclusive average. Most Irish homes will cost between €800 and €1200 for three and four bedroom semi detached homes. Larger detached homes can cost a little more. Assume an average cost of €1000. Larger detached bungalows can be up to €1500 for a full replacement of gutters, fascia and soffits and downpipes.
Cost of Fascia & Soffits Replacement (3 Bed Semi)
The cost of fascia and soffit replacement is usually included in the cost of your gutters so see gutter costs above to get an approximate average of what to expect. You can assume when you need to get your gutters replaced you will in most cases need to get gutters, downpipes, fascia and soffits replaced at the same time and the costs above for gutters is an inclusive average. Most Irish homes will cost between €800 and €1200 for three and four bedroom semi detached homes. Larger detached homes can cost a little more. Assume an average cost of €1000.
4 Bed + Replacement:
Larger detached bungalows can be up to €1500 for a full replacement of gutters, fascia and soffits and downpipes.
Find A Local Pro Near You
Get a free local estimate here....