Overview
Gutters, downpipes and flashings are how a roof manages water. Flashings seal the joins the roof covering can't — around valleys, walls, chimneys and edges — and gutters carry the water away. When any of it fails, water ends up where it shouldn't: in the fascia, eaves and walls. It's unglamorous work that quietly protects the most valuable part of your home.
When you need it
- Gutters overflow, sag, or show rust and split seams
- The fascia boards behind the gutter are soft, stained or rotting
- Downpipes are blocked, broken, or discharging against the house
- A leak is coming through a valley, wall junction or around the chimney
How Sam approaches it
- 01 Failed guttering is replaced with new, set to the correct fall so water actually reaches the downpipes
- 02 Rotten fascia is repaired or replaced, giving the gutter something solid to fix to
- 03 Flashings are re-formed and sealed at valleys, walls and penetrations
- 04 Downpipes are refitted and directed away from the footings
What it resolves
- Overflow soaking walls, eaves and foundations
- Rotting fascia and timber behind failed gutters
- Persistent leaks at valleys, walls and chimneys
Downpipe repairs and replacement
A gutter is only as good as the downpipe it drains into. Downpipes need repairing or replacing when they are:
- Cracked, split or rusted, or the joints have pulled apart
- Crushed or knocked loose from the wall
- Spilling water out at the top in heavy rain, which can mean a blocked downpipe or a blocked pipe below ground
- Dumping water against the house instead of carrying it away from the footings
New downpipes go in with the guttering, or on their own if the gutters are still sound. When to clean, repair or replace, and what drives the cost, is covered in our gutter and downpipe replacement guide.
Real jobs, real photos
These are A1 jobs, not stock images. Sam runs A1 Roofing from Redwood Park and quotes and does the work himself, so the person who looks at your roof is the person who fixes it. Adelaide's northern and north-eastern suburbs are the heart of the service area.
Common questions
Do gutters and fascia need replacing at the same time?
Not always. If the fascia is sound, the gutters can be replaced on their own. If it's soft or rotten it should be fixed at the same time, because a new gutter fixed to rotten timber will sag again. Include the fascia in your photos so Sam can tell you.
How do I know if my gutters have lost their fall?
Water still sitting in the gutter a day or two after rain, or overflow at one end while the downpipe end stays dry, means the gutter no longer slopes toward the outlet.
Why are my downpipes overflowing at the top?
Usually a blockage, either in the downpipe or in the stormwater pipe underground. It can also mean the downpipe can't keep up with the area of roof draining into it.
What does a flashing actually do?
Flashings seal the joins the roof covering can't, such as valleys, walls, chimneys, skylights and vents. Old flashings rust, sealant dries out and cracks, and metal flashings can lift in the wind. Leaks that only show in heavy or wind-driven rain often trace back to one.
When is the best time to replace gutters?
Before the wet season is ideal, so the new gutters are up before heavy rain. If you're re-roofing, doing the gutters at the same time saves on setup.
Helpful guides
Local to the north-east
Based in Redwood Park: Gutters & Flashings in Tea Tree Gully · Gutters & Flashings in Modbury · Gutters & Flashings in Golden Grove · Gutters & Flashings in Salisbury · all areas
You may also need
Have a roof you'd like us to look at?
Call Sam for a straight answer, or send a photo of the problem and receive an honest assessment without waiting for a site visit.