Roofing and Guttering

Colorbond is a coated steel roofing material that can endure intense winds, is termite resistant, and non-combustible. It’s also resistant to corrosion, chipping, peeling, and cracking.

Many Australian homeowners choose Colorbond for their roofing and guttering because the colour tends to stick – after all, the colour is literally bonded onto the steel, which means painting and repairs aren’t often required. The steel is also baked to prevent cracking and aging.

We choose to use Colorbond for our roof repairs in Lake Macquarie and Newcastle because we want to offer the best possible roofing services possible. Our repairs and restorations are made to last, so we’ll always choose the very best materials for our customers.

Some common causes of gutter damage and blockages include

• Damage from a ladder leaned against the gutter
• Splits and cracks due to age
• Broken gutter seams
• Tree branches falling in a storm
• Improper installation

The most common cause of damaged gutters, however, is a build-up of debris. As the gutter system moves water away from your home, the gutter becomes vulnerable to debris like leaves, twigs, dirt, pinecones, and insects. Sometimes, even children’s toys and bird’s nests can get stuck in the gutters.

As the debris settles into the troughs of the gutter, blockages tend to occur. This leads to leakages and eventual damage to the home.

Without proper maintenance and assistance from professional gutter cleaners, homeowners face certain damage from the overflow of water into the home.

Unfortunately, a build-up of debris in a gutter system is inevitable. Over time, as rainwater rushes through the gutters, it will bring leaves and other debris with it.

The only way to effectively prevent a blockage is to commit to routine gutter cleaning. This might include hosing down the gutters, using a gutter scoop, or manually removing debris with your hands (but don’t forget to wear gloves in case of insects). You could also install a gutter guard to keep debris at bay.

It is recommended that you clean out your gutters at least once a year, although bi-annual cleaning is an ideal way to prevent a blockage.

Clogged gutters can not only cause water ingress in the roof, but the debris build-up can damage the gutters. The weight of the debris, along with trapped water, can place enough weight on the gutters that they begin to pull away from the house.

As water collects in the clogged gutters, the metal gutters gradually start to rust. Allowing debris to remain in the gutter for long periods can cause enough damage that the gutters must be replaced.

Gutter guards, however, allow rainwater to enter your gutter and, at the same time, keep leaves, insects, and other unwanted debris out. They are arguably the most effective way to prevent a blockage from occurring in the gutter and the downpipes, saving both time and money on a gutter cleanout.

When you compare the one-off cost of installing a gutter protection system versus how much you spend annually on cleaning your gutters and the potential costs of what could go wrong with them, it definitely pays to invest to protect the value of your home.

Prevention is better than the cure – in more ways than one.

The team from Newcastle Plumbing can install a gutter guard for you, so you can expect less gutter cleaning costs and far fewer visits from our team each year.