Guttering, Drainage & Outdoor Plumbing
Most of the damp we get called out to look at is not rising damp at all. It is a blocked gutter, a split downpipe or a gully that has not drained properly since about 2009. Fixing the water first is nearly always cheaper than fixing what the water did.
We do the external water side of a property, from a length of new guttering on a terrace up to full drainage and soakaway work on a new extension.
What we take on
- Gutter replacement and repair, UPVC, aluminium and cast iron
- Downpipes, hoppers, shoes and rainwater connections
- Gully replacement and back inlet gullies
- Soakaways, land drains and surface water runs
- Outside taps and external supply pipework
- Drain jetting, clearance and camera inspection
- Below-ground foul and storm drainage on extensions
How we do it
Find where the water is actually going
We watch it in the rain or run a hose. It is amazing how often the reported leak is three metres from the actual fault.
Quote the real fix
Sometimes it is a bracket and a seal. Sometimes the whole run has sagged and needs redoing. We will tell you which, even when the cheap answer is the right one.
Install
Falls set properly with a line, brackets at correct centres, and joints that are not just relying on a squirt of sealant.
Test it
Water down the run before we pack up, so you know it works rather than finding out in November.
What it tends to cost
Gutter work is priced by the metre plus access. A two storey terrace front with no rear access costs more than a bungalow, simply because of the ladder or tower time. Below-ground drainage is priced by the run and the depth. Small jobs are welcome, we do not have a minimum call out that makes a simple repair pointless.
Questions we get asked
My wall is damp inside. Is it rising damp?
Probably not. Genuine rising damp is far rarer than the damp proofing industry would like you to believe, and it never goes above about a metre. If the damp is high up, in a patch, or worse after rain, it is penetrating damp and the cause is nearly always outside. Overflowing gutter, cracked downpipe, failed pointing or ground level built up above the damp course. Fix the outside and the inside usually dries out on its own.
Can you replace cast iron guttering like for like?
Yes, and on a period property or in a conservation area you often should. Cast aluminium is a good compromise, it looks right from the street, it will not rust, and it is a fraction of the weight so it is kinder to old fascia. Straight UPVC on a Victorian frontage looks wrong and can be a problem if the property is listed.
Do I need a soakaway or can I connect to the main drain?
Depends what the water authority allows in your street. Northumbrian Water generally do not want new surface water going into a combined sewer, so on new work you are usually looking at a soakaway, sized off a percolation test and kept at least 5m from the building. On older property connecting into an existing surface water drain is often acceptable.
Where we cover for outdoor plumbing
Other trades we cover
Want a price on outdoor plumbing?
Send a few details or give us a ring. We will come and look at it, and you get a written price with no obligation attached.