Your essential gutter maintenance guide

Running a business means taking care of your premises – inside and out.

Gutters can be an overlooked part of business management, but neglecting their maintenance can result in damage to a building, reputational harm, and negative impacts on the health and safety of employees.

Luckily, it’s easier to take care of your gutters than you think. In this article, we’ll take you through gutter maintenance tips for your business.

Why should you maintain gutters?

Gutter maintenance is important for any home or business.

When managing a commercial building, you are responsible for everyone who works there or visits, making building maintenance more important than ever.

Gutters can easily become clogged with debris, leaves, twigs and other matter, causing issues if left unresolved.

Therefore, gutter maintenance is important for:

Preventing water damage to the building
Protecting the roof’s structural integrity
Discouraging pests
Creating a great first impression
Improving the longevity of the gutter
Saving money on costly repairs

So, let’s take a look at how to properly maintain your gutters as a business owner.

Here are some easy things you can do to look after the quality of your guttering to avoid water damage at your business premises:

Visually inspect gutters

To understand when something is wrong with your gutters, you need to be familiar with what they’re usually like. Regularly inspecting your gutters to identify any developing clogs, leaks, cracks or overflows can help catch problems before they develop.

Likewise, if you are noticing any water damage or leaks at your property, this could be indicative of gutter or roof problems, and should be immediately addressed to stop further damage. The join where downspouts meet the guttering can be a particularly susceptible area for clogs, so make sure you check here.

Depending on the size of your commercial building, it might be challenging to safely carry out visual inspections. If your roof and guttering are overdue a check, or if you suspect problems are developing, then hire out the services of a professional to take a look.

Here at Docherty Roofing & Cladding, we have decades of experience as commercial roofing contractors, enabling us to swiftly inspect guttering and diagnose any issues.

You can double up this inspection with a gutter cleaning service too. We recommend an inspection and cleaning at least once a year, or twice or more annually if your gutters are located underneath trees or are in storm-prone areas.

Regularly clean gutters

If you’re wondering how to clean your gutters, there are a few things to consider.

Firstly, by the nature of commercial buildings, some gutters will be more accessible than others. Only attempt to clean your business’ gutters if it’s safe to do so.

If you can reach your gutters yourself, you’ll need a ladder, gloves and safety glasses. Equipment such as scoops and plumbers’ snakes will help with the task, or you can use your hands to unclog gutters, providing you have sturdy gloves on. Also, carry up a container to place the unclogged material in, and hooks to hang the container off. If you have flowerbeds or turf below, cover this up for protection.

However, for commercial buildings, it’s often safer to get a professional company to clean your gutters. They’ll also be able to guarantee a thorough job, thanks to their experience and specialised equipment. An expert will also be able to perform a visual inspection to pick up on any developing problems as they clean.

It’s recommended to clean your commercial gutters at least once a year, although twice a year is advisable if your gutters sit below trees or other foliage.

Invest in gutter lining

Enhance the quality and performance of your gutters with Plygene gutter liners. These innovative products form a waterproof barrier to protect the gutter and prevent leaks.

The maintenance benefits of having Plygene gutter liners installed include:

Improved rainwater flow
Waterproof barrier
Enhanced gutter performance
Prevents leaks
Expansion and contraction with no cracking

To properly take care of gutters at your commercial premises, turn to an expert such as the team here at Docherty Roofing & Cladding.

Protect your premises with Docherty Roofing & Cladding. We provide a wide range of roofing and gutter services, including the supply, installation and repair of industry-leading gutter systems. We can even fit gutter liners for that extra layer of protection. Discover more about our services in King’s Lynn, Norwich and Peterborough.