How to Know When it’s Time to Repair Your Gutters

If you’ve ever woken up to the sound of dripping water when it’s not raining indoors — or watched helplessly as a stream of water pours down your brickwork like a budget waterfall feature — then you’ll know: broken gutters are no joke.

I learned this the hard way. A few years back, I ignored the slightly sagging bit of gutter at the back of our house. It didn’t look urgent, and life was busy — school runs, work, the usual chaos. Then came a long stretch of heavy rain, and that small sag turned into a full-blown leak. Water ran straight down the wall, soaked through the brickwork, and made its way into the kitchen. The damp patch on the ceiling wasn’t just ugly — it was expensive.

So, if you’re wondering whether your gutters need a bit of love, I’m here to help you spot the signs before it gets to that point.

1. Gutters That Sag, Crack, or Look Like They’ve Had Enough

This one’s obvious, but so easy to overlook. If you can see parts of your gutter hanging lower than the rest, or if sections are cracked, rusting, or pulling away from the roof, don’t wait. That’s not just wear and tear — it’s your home trying to tell you something.

At our old place in Streatham, the back gutter was slightly bent for ages. We meant to fix it, but between birthdays, boiler issues, and everything else, it kept getting pushed down the list. Lesson learned: water doesn't wait for you to be ready.

2. Watermarks and Peeling Paint on Your Walls

If you notice black streaks on your brickwork, paint bubbling or peeling under the roofline, or a weird greenish tinge forming where it shouldn’t — that’s probably water escaping your gutters and making itself at home on your walls.

A good friend of mine in Tooting had just repainted the front of his house when he noticed damp patches under the bay window. Turns out, the join in the gutter above had pulled apart just enough to let water trickle down the side of the house. He had to repaint the whole thing a month later. Gutting. Literally.

3. Water Overflowing Like a Mini-Niagara

We had a laugh once during a garden BBQ when the heavens opened and water gushed from the front gutter like a busted fire hydrant. Everyone ran inside soaking wet. It was funny then — less so when we realised the overflow had washed away the top layer of gravel, left puddles everywhere, and soaked through the wall cavity.

If your gutters spill over every time it rains, it’s likely a blockage. A clean might sort it — but if it’s happening regularly, something else could be wrong. Maybe the slope’s off. Maybe your gutters are too narrow for the rainfall (especially common in older London homes).

4. Pools of Water and Washed-Away Soil

After that overflow episode, we noticed the garden looking a bit… off. The flower bed near the front steps was slowly eroding. Soil had shifted, and there was always a puddle after rain, no matter how sunny it was the next day.

That’s a classic sign your gutters aren’t doing their job. Water should be directed away from your home, not dumped at its feet. If left alone, that kind of damage can start messing with your foundations — and that’s a whole other level of expensive.

5. Rust Spots and Peeling Gutter Paint

Our old gutters were cast iron — classic, charming, and a total pain to maintain. I remember standing on a ladder with a wire brush and paint tin one weekend, trying to touch up rust spots that kept coming back.

Rust doesn’t just look bad. It means moisture is sitting where it shouldn’t, eating away at the metal. If you’re constantly repainting or patching, it might be time to switch to something lower maintenance, like PVCu. Honestly, when we upgraded, I wished we’d done it years earlier.

6. Mould in the Loft? Don’t Ignore It

You wouldn’t think gutters could affect the inside of your house, but they absolutely can. We discovered black mould in the loft insulation when clearing it out. Turns out, water had been seeping in through a small leak where the gutter met the roofline. It dripped into the loft, soaked the insulation, and let damp take hold.

I’m not proud of how long it took us to find the cause. We scrubbed, sealed, replaced insulation — but the real fix was outside, not in. Just another reminder that what’s out of sight shouldn't always be out of mind.

7. Gutter Joints That Come Apart

A neighbour of ours once knocked on the door after a storm and said, “You might want to take a look at your side gutter — it’s flapping.” Not what you want to hear over breakfast.

When gutter sections separate or shift out of place, water finds the easiest escape route — which usually means down your wall or behind the fascia. You might be able to seal it with a bit of DIY, but if it’s happening often, there’s a bigger issue.

8. Random Screws or Brackets on the Ground

I kept finding screws near the driveway and thought the kids had been playing with tools again. Nope. Turns out, they were from the fascia — the gutter fixings were loosening.

If you’re spotting hardware on the ground, especially after strong wind or rain, it’s worth checking your gutters. A falling section can damage cars, gardens, or worse — hurt someone. It’s not worth the risk.

9. Water Damage Inside the House

A small brown stain on the living room ceiling turned out to be the beginning of a bigger problem. We assumed it was condensation or maybe a roof tile. But it was actually water from the gutter, dripping through the wall cavity and travelling across the ceiling.

If you’re seeing damp or discolouration inside, don’t just patch it up with paint and hope for the best. Look outside — your gutters could be the sneaky culprit.

10. Your Gutters Are Just… Old

Sometimes there’s no big dramatic moment. No burst pipe, no crashing gutter. Sometimes, your guttering is just old, tired, and quietly not doing its job.

If it’s been up there for 20 years or more, it’s worth checking. Even if it looks fine from ground level, small cracks or worn seals can let water escape in places you don’t want it to.

If You’re in South London and Not Sure Where to Start — I’ve Got a Recommendation

After everything we went through, I finally called in the pros. Home Restoration Specialists were recommended by a mate, and honestly — they were brilliant. No pressure, no upselling, just helpful advice and a fair price.

They work across Lambeth, Wandsworth, Merton, and nearby boroughs. And they know their stuff — especially with older homes that still have wooden fascias and iron downpipes.

Here’s what they sorted for us:

• Swapped our flaky old cast iron gutters for smart PVCu ones

• Cleaned out years’ worth of moss and debris

• Repaired the damage around the back roofline

• Did it all with a smile, in one afternoon

And the best bit? Gutter cleaning starts from just £25, so even if you're just curious, it's worth giving them a call.

📞 0203 633 9159
📩 Or message for a free, no-pressure quote

Sometimes, the smallest fix can save you from the biggest problems. I learned that the hard way — but you don’t have to.