Blocked Gutters & Downpipes: The Silent Destroyers of Your Building

Doug Flynn
Nov 13, 2025
2 min read

Updated: Nov 24, 2025

They look harmless… until they’re not. Blocked gutters and downpipes might seem like a tiny maintenance job, but once rainwater has nowhere to go, it will find its own way in — and that’s where the real trouble kicks off.

A Real-World Example: NHS Building With Water Ingress

One of our returning high-profile clients — the NHS — had rainwater leaking into their building. The gutters and downpipes were hidden behind security shielding to prevent roof access, and they were absolutely packed with moss, leaves, balls, shuttlecocks, frisbees… basically everything ever thrown on a school playground.

Moral of the story: If it flies, the gutter will probably catch it.

What’s hiding in yours?

For professional gutter cleaning that actually prevents this mess.

How Blocked Gutters Cause Damage

Gutters and downpipes are designed to redirect rainwater away from your building. When they’re blocked, water goes where it shouldn’t — and it causes chaos.

Roof damage: Water pools, wood rots, shingles fail, and leaks work their way indoors.
Wall damage: Overflow runs down exterior walls, peeling paint, cracking plaster, and weakening masonry.
Foundation issues: Pooling water erodes soil, encourages cracks, and can threaten structural stability.
Increased pest risk: Damp gutters and pooling areas are a magnet for insects, birds, and rodents.
Landscaping chaos: Water dumps over the edge instead of through pipes, drowning plants and ruining tidy outdoor areas.
Health problems: Damp = mould. Mould = breathing issues, allergies, and general misery.
Higher repair costs: What should’ve been a simple clean becomes roofing, repainting, and drainage repairs.
Safety hazards: Slippery walkways, wet entrances, and trip hazards — basically an injury claim waiting to happen.