Why blocked gutters are expensive
Leaves, moss, silt and nests block gutters, outlets and downpipes. Water then overflows down walls, soaks into brickwork and render, rots fascias, and finds its way inside through roofs and walls. On warehouses and industrial units, blocked box and valley gutters are a common cause of internal leaks onto stock and equipment.
How often should commercial gutters be cleaned?
- Twice a year for most buildings: late autumn after leaf fall, and spring.
- Quarterly for buildings close to trees or with large valley and box gutters.
- At least annually for any building, even in open locations.
Signs your gutters need clearing
- Water spilling over the gutter edge during rain
- Plants or moss visible along the roofline
- Damp patches, green staining or algae streaks on walls
- Water stains on ceilings below box or valley gutters
- Gurgling or dry downpipes during heavy rain
How commercial gutters are cleaned
Most gutters up to around 40 feet can be cleared from the ground with a high-reach gutter vacuum. A camera on the pole lets the operative see inside the gutter and record before and after images, without ladders or scaffold. Taller buildings, box gutters and valley gutters are cleared from a MEWP (cherry picker) or with roof access and suitable edge protection. Ask for operators with IPAF training for cherry pickers and PASMA training for mobile towers. Prestige FM owns its own cherry pickers and its access teams are IPAF and PASMA trained.
What a good gutter report includes
- Before and after images of each gutter run
- Outlets and downpipes checked and flushed
- Defects noted: broken brackets, sagging runs, leaking joints, cracked downpipes
- A recommended date for the next clear
Prestige FM clears commercial gutters across the UK with camera evidence on every job. See commercial gutter clearance or get a quote.
