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How To Maintain Your Aluminium Gutters

Many home owners and building contractors are opting for aluminium gutters in their houses.  The material offers a lightweight option that is easy to install, whilst providing years of performance.  However, as great as aluminium gutters are; they do still need some maintaining if you wish to protect your property. 

Possible damage

When aluminium gutters are not properly maintained it can lead to excess water pouring down the exterior walls of the property; leaving them damaged and stained from organic deposits.  Further problems can occur when there are lower roofs below where the excess water is spilling out, such as damage to tiling and rotting of wooden soffits. 

Dealing with leaks and blockages

Most problems with guttering are as a result of blockages caused by debris, with leaves and twigs and moss being the main culprits.  This should always be the first area that you check when you discover excess water coming from your aluminium gutters.  If you are going to check your own guttering for blockages do make sure that you have someone to foot your ladder to help remove the risk of accidents.  There is also the chance that older aluminium gutters may be physically leaking.  These leaks usually occur in joints between two lengths of guttering as the seals degrade over time, whereas the metal itself remains in sound condition. 

Keeping up appearances

In additional to physical maintenance it may be that every now and then you also have to undertake some maintenance on the aesthetics of your aluminium guttering.  This is because dark streaks can sometimes form on gutters over time as a result of electrostatic bonding between the ions in the aluminium and the ions in the water and debris that has washed over the guttering.  The best way to remove the streaks is to break the bond between the ions by using a solution containing a high percentage of 2-butoxeyethanol.  Simply apply these readily available solutions to the surface, leave for a minute or so and then brush off and rinse.  You may need to repeat the process for best results; but will usually be left with shiny aluminium gutters after your first application. 

Whilst we do advocate maintaining all guttering; it is important to remember that aluminium gutters do on the whole look after themselves thanks to the fact that the metal does not degrade when exposed to the elements.  For more information on our products and services call our customer advisors on 0013 279 5854 or email us at sallyann@rainguard.co.uk.

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