Gutter cleaning, repair and replacement costs in the UK

Guttering rarely gets much attention until it stops working, but a blocked or failing gutter system can cause real damage to a property over time, so it's worth understanding both the routine cost of keeping it clean and what a repair or replacement is likely to cost when something goes wrong.

Cleaning is the cheapest and most frequent job most homeowners will pay for. A full clean of gutters, fascias and soffits together typically costs around £150-£250, covering clearing out leaves, moss and general debris and checking that water is flowing freely to the downpipes. Doing this once or twice a year, more often if the property sits near overhanging trees, is generally far cheaper than dealing with the consequences of a gutter that's been left blocked for several seasons, since overflowing water can soak into fascias, render and even foundations if it's allowed to run down the wall rather than draining away properly.

When guttering itself needs replacing rather than just cleaning, cost is usually priced per linear metre rather than as a flat fee, since the total naturally depends on how much guttering the property has. Replacing guttering typically costs £30-£60 per linear metre, averaging around £45 per metre across the various materials and profiles available. uPVC is the most common modern choice thanks to its low maintenance and reasonable cost, while cast iron and aluminium sit at the pricier end but are more durable and are sometimes specified for period properties where appearance matters.

Fascias and soffits, the boards running along the roofline that the guttering is attached to, are often replaced at the same time as guttering, both because they're structurally connected and because it's more cost-effective to do the work in one visit than to pay for access twice. uPVC fascia boards typically cost around £90-£130 per board fitted, while soffits, the boards running underneath the roof overhang, commonly cost roughly £50-£80 per linear metre fitted. Timber alternatives are available too, generally at a higher cost and with more ongoing maintenance needed to keep them protected from rot.

Put together, a full fascia, soffit and guttering replacement on a typical semi-detached house commonly costs around £1,500-£3,500 in uPVC. This can rise to £4,000 or more where timber is specified instead of uPVC, or where the property has particularly complex rooflines or difficult access. As with most roofline work, a two-storey property will usually need scaffolding or at least a scaffold tower for safe access, which commonly adds a further £250-£500 to the job.

A few signs suggest guttering needs attention sooner rather than later. Visible sagging or gaps between sections usually means brackets have failed or the guttering has moved out of its correct fall, which stops water draining properly even if the gutter itself isn't blocked. Water marks or green staining running down brickwork below the gutter line, or damp patches appearing on interior walls near the roofline, often point to overflow or a leaking joint rather than anything more serious with the roof itself, and catching this early is usually far cheaper than waiting until the damage spreads to the brickwork or timber underneath. Persistent damp at low level, near the base of a wall, can also sometimes be traced back to a downpipe discharging incorrectly rather than a problem with the damp-proof course, so it's worth having guttering checked before assuming a more expensive fix is needed elsewhere.

Because gutters are usually easy for a roofer to inspect while addressing something else on the roof, it's often worth asking any roofer visiting for a repair or a new roof quote to check the guttering, fascias and soffits at the same time, since combining jobs into a single scaffolded or laddered visit is generally more cost-effective than paying for separate call-outs later.

Frequently asked questions