Okay, so maybe guttering and down pipes are not the first thing on your list of things that may need either cleaning or replacing. However, they are essential in order to properly move any and all water that comes onto your house, either by rain, the melting of snow or simply if you decided to wash your roof (if you have a solar paneled roof or at that way inclined).

Therefore selecting the correct type of gutters and down pipes for your house can be an essential part of making sure your home stays in a condition that allows you to still live inside of it. Unfortunately, with guttering and down pipes comes a price, along with most things, both buying them and fitting them so in order to make sure you get the best deal here are some facts on both the pros and cons of some kinds of gutters and down pipes as well as the best methods of ensuing your gutters stay in perfect condition for as long as possible.

The first area of gutter and down pipe buying we will explore is the types you can actually buy, there are a fair few types but we will focus on two types, aluminum and plastic. Plastic is, as you would expect the usual type to be used on all houses when build, not only is it cheap to buy but it is also cheap to create and easy to install, therefore making this the most cost effective way of replacing your gutters and down pipes.

However, the more expensive method but much more long standing variety is the aluminum kind, not only is it stronger and more durable but it is also less likely to degrade over the years from rot and birds deciding to sit on it. They are also much more durable against rain, snow and heavy downpours which have been widely known to cause breakable strain on plastic gutters and down pipes. So if you have the money opt in for the aluminum kind as this will usually mean you'll never have to replace them again in your lifetime.

Once you have decided on the type of gutters you want and have had them successfully installed there are key things you should make sure you do in order to ensure that they not only stay in tip top condition but also remain safe and sturdy.

One of the most common mistakes is not to clean your gutters and down pipes correctly. People tend to think to work backwards, from the gutters to the down pipe, however this is by far the worst way to work, instead you need to work from the down pipe through the gutter to the end, putting whatever you scoop out into some kind of bucket. The reason for this is that by cleaning from the gutter down you push the dirt into the down pipe which can cause blockages, which in turn cause water build-ups that can literally destroy you're guttering. Do this at least every 2 months and more often when there's been heavy rain fall.