Gutters and Draughts: The Cheap Autumn Fixes Worth Doing First
By Roger Amada, PRA Plastering · 3 min read
One of these jobs costs almost nothing and takes an afternoon. The other isn't worth doing yourself. Here's how to tell which is which before winter.
Not every autumn job needs a professional. Two of the most common ones — overflowing gutters and draughty doors — sit at opposite ends of the “should I do this myself” question, and it’s worth knowing which is which before you reach for a ladder or a screwdriver.
Gutters
You spot it mid-downpour: water sheeting off the corner of the guttering instead of running through it. Nine times out of ten that’s a blockage rather than damage — leaves, moss and the general debris of a British summer sitting in the channel with nowhere to drain.
Gutters are worth clearing twice a year, once after the leaves have properly dropped in autumn and again in spring once winter’s debris has settled. Standing water left in a blocked gutter over a hard frost can crack the guttering itself, turning a clearing job into a replacement one.
Clearing debris from ground level with an extendable tool is fine. Getting up a ladder is not something to take lightly. Falls from height are one of the most common causes of serious home-maintenance injuries, so this is exactly the kind of job worth paying someone properly equipped for, rather than risking it yourself.
Draughts, doors and windows
Draughts tend to collect around four spots on an external door: the keyhole, the letterbox, the gap at the bottom, and the gaps around the frame edges. Windows suffer the same problem when their seals have shrunk or worn with age.
Draught-proofing is one of the cheapest fixes going. Foam strips, letterbox brushes and keyhole covers cost very little and take an afternoon to fit. The saving goes beyond comfort, too: a properly draught-proofed home typically saves somewhere in the region of thirty to fifty pounds a year on heating, simply because you’re no longer paying to heat the outside.
One thing not to do: draught-proof internal doors. Leave a gap under internal doors so air can circulate properly. Draught-proofing is for external doors and windows; sealing internal doors just traps damp air where it isn’t wanted.
Gutters and draughts are two of the ten checks in our free autumn & winter home guide — what’s fine to leave, what’s worth a professional look, and why the timing matters. If the gutters have got away from you, Roger and the team cover Rickmansworth, Watford, St Albans, Harrow and Hemel Hempstead, and can point you the right way even if it’s not a plastering job. Get in touch on WhatsApp.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is clearing gutters a job I can do myself?
Clearing debris from ground level with an extendable tool is fine. Getting up a ladder is not something to take lightly. Falls from height are one of the most common causes of serious home-maintenance injuries, so ladder work is worth paying someone properly equipped for.
Should I draught-proof internal doors too?
No. Leave a gap under internal doors so air can circulate properly. Draught-proofing is for external doors and windows; sealing internal doors just traps damp air where it isn't wanted.
About the Author
Roger Amada is the founder of PRA Plastering, based in Hertfordshire, specialising in interior and exterior plastering, render repair, and damp diagnosis. Roger’s approach prioritises identifying the root cause of a problem before recommending any fix.