Gutters and drainage

Gutter and drainage plumbers in Ireland

Find local plumbers for gutter cleaning, gutter repair, blocked drains, underground drainage and soakaways. All 26 counties covered.

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What plumbers cover

Gutter and drainage work in Ireland: what a plumber does

Gutter and drainage problems are among the most common causes of water damage in Irish homes. Blocked gutters allow rainwater to overflow onto walls and foundations; blocked or broken underground drains back up into gardens and, in serious cases, into the property itself. Plumbers in Ireland cover all aspects of gutter clearing, gutter repair and drainage work, from cleaning a blocked downpipe to laying a new soakaway or unblocking an underground drain.

Gutter cleaning and clearing

Over winter, gutters in Ireland accumulate leaves, moss, silt and debris. A full gutter clean involves clearing all gutters by hand or with a vacuum, flushing downpipes and checking joints for leaks. Most plumbers recommend a gutter clean once a year, ideally in late autumn after the leaves have fallen.

Gutter repair and replacement

Plastic gutters crack, sag and pull away from the fascia. Cast iron gutters rust and fail at joints. A plumber can repair individual sections, reseal leaking joints or replace a full run with uPVC guttering. Where the fascia board itself is rotten, a roofer may need to be involved to repair the timber before new guttering can be fitted.

Drain unblocking and drainage repairs

Underground drains block with silt, tree roots and grease. Plumbers clear drains with rods or a high-pressure water jetter, and can use a CCTV drain survey to locate the cause of a recurring blockage. Collapsed or cracked drain sections are excavated and replaced. For more detail, see our drain unblocking guide.

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Diagnosis guide

Common gutter and drainage problems in Irish homes

Ireland's wet climate means gutters and drains are under constant pressure. These are the problems plumbers deal with most often, and what each one involves to fix.

Blocked gutters overflowing

Leaves, moss and silt block the gutter channel and downpipe outlet. Water overflows the gutter edge during rainfall and runs down the wall. Left untreated, this causes damp penetration, staining and, in time, structural damage to wall ties and cavity insulation.

Fix: gutter cleaning and downpipe flushing. €80 to €200 depending on property height and run length.

Leaking gutter joints

Plastic gutter joints dry out and crack with age, particularly on south-facing elevations. Cast iron joints fail when the putty seal corrodes. Water drips from the joint during rainfall rather than running to the downpipe. A dark green or algae stain on the wall below a joint is the typical sign.

Fix: reseal or replace the joint section. €60 to €150 per joint repaired.

Sagging gutters pulling away from fascia

Gutter brackets work loose over time, particularly in older properties with timber fascia. A sagging gutter does not drain to the downpipe and pools water at the low point, which then overflows or forces water back against the wall.

Fix: refix brackets or refit the gutter run. €120 to €300. If the fascia is rotten, a roofer is needed first.

Blocked downpipe

A downpipe blocked with compacted debris causes the gutter above it to overflow even when the gutter channel is clear. The downpipe may appear intact with no visible damage; the blockage is usually a hard plug of compacted leaves and silt at a bend or shoe.

Fix: rodding or jetting the downpipe clear. €80 to €150.

Blocked underground drain

Where rainwater downpipes connect to an underground drain, silt and debris can block the underground section. Water backs up at the gulley and may overflow onto the path or garden. In more serious cases, a shared drain between properties can back up into both.

Fix: CCTV survey to locate blockage, then rodding or jetting. €150 to €400.

Soakaway failure

Many older Irish homes drain surface water to a rubble soakaway rather than a main sewer connection. Over time these fill with silt and lose capacity. The first sign is water pooling on the lawn after rainfall. A failed soakaway requires excavation and either cleaning or replacement.

Fix: excavate, inspect and replace soakaway crate or rubble fill. €600 to €1,500.

2026 cost guide

Gutter and drainage costs in Ireland 2026

Typical prices for gutter and drainage work across Ireland in 2026, including labour and VAT at 13.5% (standard rate for repair and maintenance work). Always get at least two quotes.

Gutter and drainage costs in Ireland 2026
Job	Typical cost	Notes
Gutter clean, single-storey house	€80–€140	Includes downpipe flush
Gutter clean, two-storey house	€140–€220	Includes downpipe flush
Gutter joint repair or reseal	€60–€150	Per joint; multiple joints at lower per-unit rate
Downpipe replacement (per metre)	€30–€60	Supply and fit uPVC
Full gutter replacement, semi-detached	€400–€900	uPVC supply and fit; excludes fascia repair
Blocked downpipe clearance	€80–€150	Rodding or jetting
Blocked underground drain clearance	€150–€350	Rodding; jetting at higher end
CCTV drain survey	€200–€450	Locates blockage or damage
Drain repair (excavation)	€600–€2,500	Depends on depth and run length
Soakaway replacement	€600–€1,500	Excavation, crate and backfill included

When to call a roofer too

Gutter problems caused by the roof: what to watch for

Gutters are attached to the fascia board, which sits directly below the roof covering. In many cases, a persistent gutter problem is caused or made worse by a fault on the roof itself. Moss growing heavily on the roof tiles washes into gutters and blocks them repeatedly. A slipped or broken tile just above the gutter allows water to penetrate behind the fascia. Rotten fascia boards cannot hold gutter brackets securely, meaning any gutter repair is temporary until the timber is replaced.

Signs the roof is the root cause

If you are having gutters cleaned more than twice a year due to moss and debris, the roof covering needs attention. If the fascia board feels soft or shows dark staining around the bracket fixings, it has taken water damage and needs a roofer to assess and replace it before new guttering is fitted. If water staining appears inside the eaves or in the attic near the gutter line, a slipped tile rather than a blocked gutter is often the cause.

A roofer can assess the condition of the tiles, leadwork and fascia boards in one visit, and repair or replace what is needed before the plumber refits the guttering. This saves the cost of doing the gutter work twice.

Plumber inspecting drainage and guttering on an Irish property

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