Wellington gutters have a hard life. The wind drives leaves and pine needles in from three sections away, the rain comes sideways, and anything growing on the roof ends up in the spouting sooner or later. Most people only notice there's a problem when water starts pouring over the front during a southerly.
We clear gutters across Wellington, Porirua and the Hutt Valley. This is what we tell people to look for, what you can safely check yourself, and when it's time to call us.
Why Wellington gutters block up
Wind is the big one. Leaves don't just drop from your own trees. A good northwest blow carries them from all over the street and dumps them in the corners of your spouting and around the downpipe outlets.
Moss off the roof is the next. Older concrete tile and Decramastic roofs in damp, shaded spots grow moss and lichen. Every heavy rain loosens some and washes it into the gutter, where it packs down into a thick mat.
Then there's the hills. Plenty of Wellington houses sit on steep sections with big trees above and below. A house tucked into a gully gets leaf litter, damp and shade all at once.
Coastal homes have one more thing to think about. Salt air is hard on metal spouting and brackets. Gutters that sit full of wet muck rust out faster, especially in suburbs close to the water.
Signs your gutters are blocked
Walk around the house after a decent rain and look for these:
- Water spilling over the front edge of the gutter instead of going down the downpipe
- Plants, grass or moss growing out of the spouting
- Streaks or tide marks down the fascia and weatherboards
- A downpipe that stays dry in heavy rain, which means the blockage is above it
- Gutters sagging, or brackets pulling away from the fascia
- Soggy ground or a washed-out patch of garden below the same spot every time
- Damp, mould or peeling paint on the walls or ceiling near the eaves
Older villas and bungalows sometimes have internal box gutters hidden behind a parapet. If one of those blocks, the water can come inside rather than over the edge. Watch for stains on ceilings near the outside walls.
What you can check yourself
You can do a fair bit without leaving the ground.
Look at where each downpipe meets the stormwater drain. If there's a grate or a sump, clear any leaves sitting on it. Run a hose into the bottom of the downpipe and see if it drains away. If water backs up, the blockage is underground or in the pipe itself.
From a ladder on a single-storey house, you can scoop leaves out of the gutter near the outlets. Choose a calm day. Wellington wind and ladders are a bad mix. Have someone foot the ladder and don't overreach.
Don't use a water blaster on gutters. It sprays muck everywhere and can push water up under the roofing.
When to call someone in
Get a professional in if any of these apply:
- The house is two storeys or the section slopes away from the walls
- The gutters overflow even after you've cleared what you can reach
- There are internal box gutters or valleys you can't safely get to
- You can see rust holes, split joins or sagging runs
- You'd rather not be on a ladder in the wind, which is fair enough
What a professional gutter clean includes
Our process is the same on every job. We inspect the gutters, clear them by hand and take the debris away. Then we check the downpipes, take them apart if needed to clear a blockage, and flush water through to test the flow. If we spot problems like loose brackets or rusted sections, we'll tell you so you can get them fixed.
Most homes take up to about three hours, depending on size, storeys and how much has built up. You don't need to be home, as long as we can get to the gutters. Full details are on our gutter cleaning Wellington page.
Best time to book
Late autumn is the classic time, once the leaves are down and before the worst of winter. Spring is the other good window. We also see a run of calls after a big southerly, when gutters that were fine last week suddenly overflow. For most Wellington homes, twice a year is about right. More if you've got big trees nearby.
Stop the moss at the source
If your gutters keep filling with moss, the roof is feeding them. A roof treatment in Wellington kills the moss and lichen where it grows, so less of it ends up in the spouting. If the gutters have left black streaks down your walls, we can do a house wash on the same visit.
Gutter prices depend on the house. Call us on 027 303 8398 for a free quote. We're open seven days, 7am to 7pm.
Questions about blocked gutters
How often should Wellington gutters be cleaned?
Twice a year suits most homes, usually autumn and spring. Houses under big trees may need it more often.
Why are my gutters overflowing when they look clear?
The blockage is often at the outlet or inside the downpipe, where you can't see it. A gutter can look fine from the ground and still back up.
Do I need to be home for a gutter clean?
No. We just need access to the gutters and downpipes. Let us know about gates, dogs or anything tricky about the site.
How long does it take?
Up to about three hours for most homes. Big houses and very full gutters take longer.