Blocked or Leaking Gutters: The Signs, and Why They Cause Damp

Gutters are easy to ignore — until they cause a much bigger problem inside. Here is what to look out for.

Signs of a gutter problem

• Water overflowing the front of the gutter in rain.
• Staining or green streaks down the wall below.
• Plants or grass growing out of the gutter.
• Sagging or gaps at the joints.
• Damp appearing on the inside wall.

Why it causes damp

When a gutter blocks or leaks, rainwater runs straight down the wall instead of away from the house. Over time that soaks the masonry and shows up as penetrating damp inside — often blamed on the wall when the gutter is the real cause.

Clean or replace?

Many problems are solved with a good clean and a minor repair. If the guttering is old, sagging or cracked, replacing it with new seamless or uPVC guttering is the longer-term fix.