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How To Keep Birds Out Of Your Roofs Gutters

Roofs are a birds favourite place to hang out, especially during the colder months when birds look for roof’s gutters to see if there are gaps on the edge of the roof so birds can then make their residence. It is then during the spring time when birds build nests and lay their eggs in the gutters.

Birds can cause damage to your roof and that is why it is very important to keep them out of your roof’s gutters

When birds are in your gutters they can bend or rip the guttering from your roof, their nests can clog the roof’s downspouts. This can end up causing a major leaf in the roof which is a costly fix.

To help prevent birds from nesting in your homes gutters you can try the following:

Gutter guard, these are aluminium sheets which cover slights on your gutter. A gutter guard also prevents debris, leaves and other material from landing in your gutters. Birds won’t be able to drink the water in the gutters which will help to deter them.

Roof bird spikes, these are thin plastic panels with various spikes also known as anti roosting strips.

What about if you notice nests in your gutter? Normally occurring in the summer months it is very important to clear these nests as they can easily clog the gutter when it starts to rain. With the help of experts such as us we can help you get rid of these nests easily.

The safest and most reliable way of cleaning your gutters is through a professional, we at BSG Group can ensure you have a piece of mind in knowing you are having your gutters repaired or emptied by our team of highly experienced gutters who will complete the task using the correct methods and techniques. So let us take the hassle out of cleaning –

We offer gutter cleaning prices which are very competitive, at your request we will email you a free quote for your gutter cleaning service.

Phone: 0208 581 1636

Email: [email protected]

Signs your gutters are in need of repair

As we arrive into summer we start to think about all of those neglected projects around the house, it is certainly the perfect time to make improvements to our home’s just in time for winter ahead – making winter work much easier!

Summer is always the best time to take a better look at your home’s gutters and downpipes so all issues can be easier addressed than at winter with the snow and rain storms occurring. When your home’s gutters are left neglected this can lead to major water issues affecting your home’s foundation if not addressed quickly.

Gutters are perfectly handy features that are there to direct moisture from your roof down into your garden – protecting your home from water damage, soil from shifting under your home and keeping mold and fungi from infecting your roof or exterior walls.

Gutters which are maintained properly can add attractive features to your home, modern gutters have a streamlined look which accessories your roof and exterior walls nicely. If your gutters aren’t in good shape you won’t get to experience any of their benefits of course.

Signs that your guttering may need repaired are as follows:

Visible gaps, cracks and fractures.
Peeling paint/orange flecks
Standing water in gutters
Sagging/pulling gutters
Mould
Water marks beneath the gutters
Rotting
Pulling from the walls

The safest and most reliable way of cleaning your gutters is through a professional, we at BSG Group can ensure you have a piece of mind in knowing you are having your gutters repaired or emptied by our team of highly experienced gutters who will complete the task using the correct methods and techniques. So let us take the hassle out of cleaning –

We offer gutter cleaning prices which are very competitive, at your request we will email you a free quote for your gutter cleaning service.

Phone: 0208 581 1636

Email: [email protected]

What Might Be Lurking In Your Gutter?

There are lots of things that get trapped in our homes gutter, from leaves to twigs and even rocks – they all land on to our roof and get carried to the gutter as the rainwater washes them down your drain pipe.

Did you know that there may be creepy crawlies hiding in your gutters? Here we explain what else you may find..

As we already know things like twigs, leaves and debris can become clogged in our gutters when left uncleaned, when left too long this makes a great home for critters and pests such as mice and other rodents. This is especially the case in winter when mice are seeking somewhere warm to stay.

Just like mice birds also find a home in piles of leaves – making an excellent choice for nesting. With birds you can find that they cause more of a disruption from their droppings which may cause stains on parts of your home. Bird nests can also cause a blockage to your draining system obstructing the flow of rainwater causing damage to your guttering system and leakage.

If there are trees surrounding your home you could possibly end up with a squirrel issue on your roof and gutters. Your gutters can of course act as a safe place for squirrels to escape predators such as foxes. Squirrels can also become stuck in your homes drain pipes which can be a costly fix.

Let BSG Group take care of your gutter cleaning, no matter what time of the year.

Do you need a gutter cleaning quote? Visit our main gutter cleaning website for a gutter cleaning quote at affordable rates.

Increase The Value Of Your Home With Clean Guttering

Improving even the smallest things when selling your home can make a huge difference to a prospective buyer. Well kept gutters and downpipes can add a large financial reward to the value of your home and in our latest blog we are going to explain just how and why…

Gutters are unsung heroes of real estate

Without them your home’s structural integrity is at major risk. Clean and clear gutters can prevent flooding, you might think that gutters are just for the exterior of your home and to help move water from the roof. However, they stop floods occurring inside as well, rainfall can build up around the base of your home causing flooding issues at lower levels.

This excess water build up can also cause a build up of water on your roof which can also lead to leaks occurring from the top. Clean guttering will also prevent rotting fascias which could lead to costly roof repairs. Ice can easily build up in the gutters during the winter months if they are not free from any debris. An unclogged gutter will help to draw away water from your roof before it turns to ice which will cause very costly issues for your home.

Clogged gutters could also send water to places it shouldn’t go causing problems around your home and in your garden. An overflow of water can stain your homes walls leaving discoloration which can certainly decrease the value of your home.

So of course clean gutters can prevent costly repairs, make your home work better, and increase your home’s functionality adding value to your property. Improving the appearance of your home, new buyers will know they won’t have to do a lot of repairs associated with  unkempt guttering adding to your home’s appeal.

So if you want to add value to your home it’s certainly a good idea to start with your gutters!

Contact us today for a any of your guttering needs, our highly skilled team will be ready to help –  

Receive a FREE quote by calling us today: 

0800 566 8301

How do you clean your gutters and how often should you?

One of the most asked questions when it comes to gutters, how should we clean them? As spring is now upon us and the brighter evenings are finally here it’s now prime time to start thinking about cleaning your home gutters.

How do you clean your gutters?

Gutters have to put up with a lot, especially from severe conditions in the winter months leaving you to deal with the consequences come summer. Extreme winter weather can cause leaves and debris to clog the gutters and if left uncleaned this can result in very serious damage.

How do you clean your gutters? 

Well firstly you need the correct tools for the job:

  • A ladder
  • A strong bag – a plastic bag is appropriate
  • Gloves – ideally waterproof
  • A scoop or small spade

To begin it is vital that you ensure your ladder is always secure, this can be achieved by making sure that the ladder is planted on firm level ground and both feet should be kept level. You can increase security by using a ladder standoff which attaches brackets to the top of the gutter ensuring the ladder doesn’t move too much.

It is always best to keep a bag or bucket close by to place the debris into, using rubber gloves or a scoop you should then be able to remove the gutters contents. You should always aim to remove as much waste as you can, even reaching into smaller spaces. Once everything is removed it is time to do the downpipes which can involve washing them out with a hose or bucket.

When it comes to how often you should clean your gutters we always recommend gutter cleaning twice a year, during spring and autumn. It is always important to clean as much out as you can as the more debris there is the longer it will take.

Remember a clean gutter means the prevention of blockages and damage to your home.

Do you need a gutter cleaning quote? Visit our main gutter cleaning website for a gutter cleaning quote at affordable rates.

The Importance Of Cleaning Your Gutters In Spring

Let’s face it, we all dread cleaning the gutters but do you know exactly why it is essential to do so?

A costly problem to fix…

As spring approaches it is now time to take on the dreadful chore but keeping in mind that by not doing so could result in several home damaging consequences. Our home gutters tend to fill up more during the winter months, this can be problematic for homeowners come spring time.

With the autumn and winter months causing more wind and rainfall therefore causing more leaves and debris to fall into our gutters. It’s normally the winter months that we choose to leave our gutters as with the darker evenings and colder weather.

Gutters are designed to ensure that water drains in an orderly fashion, they protect the foundations of our home from any water damage. When they aren’t cleaned this can cause water to overflow causing a range of structural issues.

With clogged gutters the water will spill onto your garden causing major landscape damage over time. An overflow of water can also cause damage to your homes decking causing rot and discolouration over time.

One of the most occurring damages from clogged gutters is foundation damage, this is when the water leaks into your home’s foundation. When this water freezes and expands it will then cause cracks and weakening the ground underneath your home. This will all over time eventually cause the flooring of your home to cave in.

For home’s with a basement water will hit these areas easily, this will cause serious mould spots and musty smell. This in time could lead to flooding which to repair will remain very costly.

The initial effects of clogged gutters will be major damage to your property’s roof, tiles can absorb the water allowing it to leak through into your roofing structure. The water can move through the roof and on to the ceiling.

Do you need a gutter cleaning quote? Visit our main gutter cleaning website for a gutter cleaning quote at affordable rates.

How Gutters Work

Gutters are designed to remove any water from the base of your home, this is with help from your homes downpipes of course…

In order for gutters to do their job properly the downpipes must be clear of any debris which will ensure the water can flow easily out and to the bottom of your home.

It is also highly important that gutters are properly pitched and angled toward the downpipes in order for the water to flow. If any of these occur this can cause the water to severely damage your guttering.

The top signs to look out for: 

These signs indicate why your gutter may not be working properly, 

Sagging guttering – This is when your gutter appears to be pulling away from your fascia and soffit, this can happen if there is too much debris heavily weighing your gutter.

Leaking gutters – You know your gutters are leaking when you spot water dripping from your gutter system, this can occur from wear and tear causing holes and loose gutter joints.

Clogged gutters – If you spot debris in your gutters and water stains on your home walls or your gutters pulling away from the fascia you more than likely have clogged gutters.

Badly pitched – The position of your gutters is highly important, if water sits stagnant this means your gutters are laying too flat. If the water is over shooting they may be poorly angled to hold the water.

If you notice any of the above don’t panic! We are here to help at BSG Group, call us today for a FREE quote! – 0800 566 8301

Gutter Health Check On Older Buildings

It’s always important to spot common gutter and downpipe problems early, this is especially true for older buildings. As with older buildings the most common method of rainwater disposal is cast iron gutters and downpipes, even older buildings did not even have gutters, this is seen in many Georgian buildings – using a parapet gutter lined in lead instead…

The most common signs of any gutter and downpipe issues on older buildings include:

Blocked Gutters:

This will be evident when water begins running out of the gutters onto your home’s walls and foundation. This is normally caused from a blockage of leaves and debris. It is important to check for a build up of leaves and debris any time of the year as these can lead to vegetation growth and blockage problems.

Blocked Downpipes:

We know the downpipes are blocked when we start to see water backing up into the gutter or the gutter is overflowing from rainfall. This is important to spot as the water in the downpipe joints can freeze especially in winter time causing the cast iron to split open which will be a very costly issue to repair.

Blocked Gulleys:

Any open gulley traps must be free from leaves and debris, it is vital to check as this can cause major blockages in the underground drainage system.

Gutter Brackets:

This holds the gutter together ensuring the gutter is doing what it is designed to, loose gutter brackets can misalign the gutter therefore expelling water on to your home’s foundation and the cause of leaking from the roof.

Downpipe Brackets:

As with the gutter brackets, downpipe brackets can become loose or missing which can cause the downpipes to disconnect from the joints. This will be evident with the overflow of rainwater or staining and algae growth from water.

The Condition Of The Cast Iron:

Cat iron over time can become chipped and the paint can begin to flake heavily and rust, it is important to check for any holes or thinning of the surface. 

The Takeaway:

You can keep your gutters running smoothly no matter how old they are with continued health checks and cleans. It is essential to keep your gutters free from any blockages which can be achieved with reliable cleaning, we at BSG Group can provide you with professional gutter cleaning no matter how old your system is. 

Contact us today for any of your guttering needs and our highly skilled team will be ready to help!

Receive a FREE quote by calling us:

0800 566 8301

What happens when you don’t clean your gutters?

We all dread it and we all put it off for as long as we can, but ensuring your gutters are cleaned is highly important for the health and value of your home. We have talked about the importance of cleaning your home’s gutters and downspouts but let’s point out the issues clogged gutters and downspouts will cause if you don’t clean them out…

What can happen when your gutters are clogged…

Roof Leaks

When your gutters are clean and free from any debris they will do as they are required which is to channel water to the downspouts and away from your home. Should your gutters become clogged the water will sit against your roof which over time can cause the roof to rot and leak. Which will cause a very expensive problem to fix!

Broken Gutters

If your gutters become clogged, when it rains the water will fill your gutters to the brim and water gets heavy very quickly. All of the extra weight could potentially bend your gutters leading to in some cases tearing the gutters from your roof.

Foundation Problems

A clogged gutter will attract more water towards your home, this is of course not what should happen and defeats the whole operation of what you gutter is supposed to do. A clogged gutter will allow water to pool until it begins to spill over the sides and down your home’s walls. This will eventually cause a pool around your home’s foundation which can lead to erosion weakening the walls causing cracks.

Attracting Pests

Damp debris can serve an invitation for wasps and bees to build nests, even attracting bairds to nest around the home more.

Fixing these problems are annoying and expensive, but the good news is that by unclogging and regularly cleaning your gutters you can easily avoid these issues! If you would like to we can ensure your gutters are in top condition through our professional cleaning and gutter services.

Contact our friendly team today – Phone: 0208 581 1636 / Email: [email protected]

How To Maintain Your Gutters

Gutters are an essential part of your home’s roofing system, they help to funnel rainwater from your roof away from your home. When gutters become cracked, broken and clogged this can lead to serious water damage down the exterior walls of your home. The result? Extreme damage to your home’s foundation and/or leaks into your crawlspace. In order to avoid these problems from arising we must ensure to inspect and maintain our gutters regularly!

A few essential tips to keep your gutters maintained..

Clean gutters at least twice a year

We recommend cleaning them before winter, and then again in spring time. If there is really stormy weather it is also a great idea to take a peek as leaves and debris gather quicker. 

Inspect your gutters for any rust and leaks

When gutters are cleaned we advise to check your gutters for any sign of rust or holes, this can develop over time with the changes in weather or if your gutters have become very clogged. It is important to repair your gutters before they leak into your home causing very expensive water damage.

Prevent ice from forming

Any remaining debris that prevents your gutters from properly draining could lead to frozen water that can expand into the edges of your roof. Over time, this can cause roof leaks and serious structural damage. Plus, the expanding of water when it’s formed into ice can cause your gutters to potentially crack and lead to spouts of water pouring directly onto the ground below, failing to redirect water away from the home. This can be avoided by regular cleaning.

Clear out the downspouts

We recommend inspecting the downspout and any pipes leading away from your home just as regularly as the gutters. If your water is pouring out of the extension pipe that leads into your downspout, it may be due to a seam issue. it may also be because debris has built up within your downspout-you may have to remove it and clear out the blockage, or at least snake the pipe so water can flow freely away from your home’s foundation.

Check for clogged gutters

How do you know if your gutters are clogged?

  • Are your gutters overflowing?
  • Is there restricted flow of water from your downspouts?
  • Do you see ground erosion below the gutter line?
  • Leaky corners?
  • Discoloration (not dirt, mold or mildew) on the gutter?

Looking for a trusted and reliable gutter cleaning company to help you clean and tune-up your gutters? Contact us today!

Phone: 0208 581 1636

Email: [email protected]

Why Is Gutter Cleaning Important

Gutters play a huge role in maintaining your home’s well being, helping to control the flow of rainwater to protect your walls, roof, landscape and foundation. If we neglect our gutters (by not cleaning them) they can turn from necessity to nightmare!

What can happen to clogged gutters

Your home’s gutter can easily become clogged with leaves, sticks and other debris which can therefore cause a leaky roof or water damage to the interior and exterior of your home. This can cause your home to be more open to rodents and mold which can be a costly job to fix. Regular gutter cleaning eliminates the debris from your gutter, thereby ensuring that they work as intended.

One of the top reasons to clean your gutters is to prevent water damage, the top cause of structural damage. A clogged gutter can cause roof leaks which can damage your ceiling, your walls, your floor, your fascia board and other parts of your home. This can reduce the stability of your building – reducing its value. Gutter cleaning extends the lifespan of your roof, clogged gutters can trap ice which adds unnecessary weight and stress on your roof. The additional weight could cause your roof to then collapse unexpectedly.

Clogged gutters will not drain water as it should, causing the water to freeze in winter which can move your shingles apart causing more roof leaks.

Do you remember to ensure your gutters are cleaned regularly?

If not, we can help to increase their lifespan, increase the aesthetics of your home, extend your home’s lifespan, prevent flooding and water damage. Our team of expert gutters at BSG Group  specialise in residential and commercial gutter cleaning, gutter repairs and gutter lining.

If you are based in the South East, home counties, London, Birmingham and Midlands areas please contact us today for a free quote!

Phone: 0208 581 1636

Email: [email protected]

Can I Clean The Gutters Myself?

Cleaning your home gutters can seem like a tough job and one most homeowners put off for as long as they can. But cleaning your home gutters is a very necessary job that isn’t difficult and will keep them working properly. Over time gutters can become clogged with leaves and other debris so it is always best to clean them regularly to avoid much more difficult and expensive work later on.

When to seek for a professional

Many homeowners ask if it is ok to clean the gutters without professional help to which we always answer yes, but only if they are comfortable working at heights and using a ladder. Cleaning out your home’s gutters is a necessary annual task, but not heeding caution can cause personal injury and property damage. As well, if you haven’t got any experience in working at heights we don’t recommend, as the biggest cause of accidents is falling from ladders at home.

Cleaning gutters requires working from a ladder of course, to work safely we suggest:

  • Never climbing above the second to last step
  • Not extending your reach
  • Using a step ladder on solid level ground
  • Using an extension ladder for two story homes
  • If using an extension ladder to use a ladder stabiliser to ensure ladder remains in place
  • If you are not comfortable on ladders to always consider hiring a professional

The safest and most reliable way of cleaning your gutters is through a professional, we at BSG Group can ensure you have a piece of mind in knowing you are having your gutters repaired or emptied by our team of highly experienced gutters who will complete the task using the correct methods and techniques. So let us take the hassle out of cleaning –

We offer gutter cleaning prices which are very competitive, at your request we will email you a free quote for your gutter cleaning service.

Phone: 0208 581 1636

Email: [email protected]