What is Commercial Guttering, and Why is Maintenance so Important? 2nd February 2022
Commercial guttering stops debris and water from damaging the property, such as erosion, water damage, flooding or staining. It also keeps rainwater and other forms of precipitation away from pathways and building entrances where customers and staff frequent.
Much like your home's guttering system, commercial gutters are often made of metal of uPVC. Aluminium is a fine choice because it's very durable, easily holding up under adverse weather conditions whilst lasting many years without any need for maintenance or repairs. It also doesn't rust. uPVC is a more cost-effective solution that delivers high resistance to wear and tear. Whatever material is chosen for a commercial property to key to increasing its lifespan and keeping it in top condition is regular maintenance.
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How to maintain your commercial gutters?
Whether you're going to maintain your commercial gutters independently or call upon an expert, there are three main weaknesses to look out for:
1. Cracks
2. Dirt, leaves and debris clogging the gutter system
3. Rust or corrosion
Having a regular maintenance schedule for these inspections is ideal because you'll always be keeping your commercial or industrial guttering in good working order for as long as possible. Keeping metallic components well-maintained is important. As stated above, aluminium doesn't rust, however, it can corrode. Therefore, given enough time with a lack of maintenance work, your aluminium guttering may develop large holes caused by corrosion. Whilst other metals like steel will rust over time, uPVC is likely to be more brittle, so there are 'problem areas' to look out for with every material.
If you can detect early signs of wear and remedy the issues, you'll stand a much better chance of minimising costly repairs. Basic maintenance tasks such as cleaning the gutters and removing debris are also very important, and early prevention is key. If you wait until water builds up on the roof or gushes down the side of the building onto the path below, you're going to have a more difficult job on your hands.
Furthermore, if you neglect your gutters, they could overload and snap under the weight of a heavy downpour. This will lead to major damage to both the property's exterior as well as any goods or stock inside it. You want to keep things as light as possible on the roof with no excess weight that can cause cracks or leaks.
What's the best commercial guttering solution?
At Avant Garde Roofing, we pride ourselves on offering quality, innovative and permanent solutions to leaking flat roofs. Commercial guttering has long been an important part of our business, and we continue to provide guttering installations and repairs. We're also approved installers of the Plygene Gutterline system. The material is incredibly hard-wearing and carries a 20-year guarantee. It is pliable enough to mould to any gutter profile and will tolerate changes in temperatures — so there is less chance of it splitting or cracking. If you'd like to learn more about us and how we can improve the lifespan of your commercial property with top quality guttering, please get in touch with our friendly team today.
