[mark turton]

Hi guys -
Had a gutter clear job today around a conservatory simple other than the fact the gutter round around all 4 sides of the conny. Only one downpipe and 45degree corners. Apex roof conny with a gully gutter at back.

Gully gutter at back has 2/3 inch over hang of conny roof and the same with the roof tile into the gully, therefore best opening is 3/4 inch and narrows to less than a 1/4 inch, cant even get a finger in places.

TRIED
A HOSE PIPE - NOT ENOUGH PRESSURE - USELESS
A SMALL TOOL TO DRAG DEBRIS OUT - USELESS
A PRESSURE WASHER (STD LANCE LENGTH - THINK  A LONGER ONE WOULD HAVE HELPED) - USELESS AS 5 YEARS OF DEBRIS PACKED SOLID INTO CONCEALED SIDES. IT JUST KEPT WASHING BACK - AFTER 3 HOURS, HAD MADE SUCH LITTLE PROGRESS.

WANT TO HELP CUSTOMER AS IT BADLY NEEDS DOING - PLEASE PLEASE ANY IDEAS EXAMPLE PICS OR ANYTHING WOULD BE HELPFUL.

I THOUGHT THAT MAYBE A LONGER LANCE A MORE COMMERCIAL PRESSURE WASHER MAY DO IT, BUT THEN WORRY THAT I MIGHT DISLODGE ROOF TILES OR CONNY ROOF.

ALSO THOUGH OF REFERRING TO MAYBE DYNAROD??

PLEASE PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN?

MARK 

[niceandclean]

Have you got a picture? I take it your talking about an ali box gutter fixed to the fascia where the roof tiles come down?

[mark turton]

Have you got a picture? I take it your talking about an ali box gutter fixed to the fascia where the roof tiles come down?

its at back of conny roof where it meets the roof tiles - the gutter is more like a gully - the opening so tight that you cant get a pressure washer nozzle into it in order to spray the sides of the gully, which is packed solid with debris.

its got me beat but would like to solve problem and then report back on  here incase anyone else has the problem (certainly in future i would charge good money to do it)

[mark turton]

also ive no pic coz im in a crappy back up phone currently (htc got wet)

[niceandclean]

It sounds like a box gutter to me?

Anyway, are they small peg tiles or are they larger roof tiles on the house/bungalow?

[Dave.]

If you put too much pressure in you'll run the risk of the water spilling inside the roof void or into the conservatory.

If the gutter on the other three sides is plastic and comes apart can you disconnect one of the back corners and either feed the hose of a gutter vac in, or feed in a drain rod with a drag scraper tool.

I've cleaned a few conservatories with rear gullies - builders don't generally think about ongoing maintenance

[Jimmy Jon]

You could try a rotating pressure nozzle, but you would need a decent petrol pressure washer which could draw water from a water butt and not the mains. I have used one of these nozzles on dry compacted mud, it does do the job and as it is attached to the hoze and not the lance, you should be able to feed it into the gutter. It might make a mess though!  

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HIGH-PRESSURE-DRAIN-NOZZLE-5-5HP-GERNI-1-4BSP-MALE-11HP-/180580342289?pt=UK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item2a0b6d5a11

[mark turton]

they are larger roof tiles - it is a bungelow

there are walls either side butted up tight against both side gutters, so no access to slide gutter vac in. i have a gutter vac but even narrow pipe wont go in.

i honestly believe i could pressure was all day all week and be no further forward that i was after 3 hours - its baffling to think there must be a solution but also the stupidty of the construction and only one downpipe

[Smudger]

I'm with Dave - too much water and pressure will result in water damage,

i had a simular one to this and all i could do was drag it along to the end and hook it out - i have a 1/2" dia metal hook
but i found a squeegee worked well on the end of a trad pole

Darran

[Dave Garrett]

Try pushing tiles up for access nearly all ive come across are not nailed

[niceandclean]

they are larger roof tiles - it is a bungelow

there are walls either side butted up tight against both side gutters, so no access to slide gutter vac in. i have a gutter vac but even narrow pipe wont go in.

i honestly believe i could pressure was all day all week and be no further forward that i was after 3 hours - its baffling to think there must be a solution but also the stupidty of the construction and only one downpipe

Up onto the roof, slide the second row of tiles up under the third row, and lift off the first row of tiles. This will then give you access to get your hand in to clear them out. Have done this on two now, ill see if i can find some pics!

[mark turton]

Up onto the roof, slide the second row of tiles up under the third row, and lift off the first row of tiles. This will then give you access to get your hand in to clear them out. Have done this on two now, ill see if i can find some pics!
[/quote]

crikey how long did it take and what did you charge?

a builder mate has suggested having the tiles diamond cut back 2inches.

[Dave Willis]

Don't use a pressure washer - I tried a drain jetter once and it blasted the muck up and under the roof - some of it landing on the dining table inside. 

[bobplum]

drain rods

[Jimmy Jon]

Don't use a pressure washer - I tried a drain jetter once and it blasted the muck up and under the roof - some of it landing on the dining table inside. 

I thought that is what would happen if you use the drain jetter, I bet it cleared the blockage though! 
Some times you've just got to walk away and this job sounds like one of them. I had to walk away from a gutter clearing job last week it just wasn't worth the hassle! Get your builder mate to go round there 

[mark turton]

yes think im going to walk away and let buildermate sort something - is just so much hassle, i might off known as her wfp window cleaner wouldnt do it.

[Blue Frog Systems]

If there is gutters on all 4 sides could you not remove the guttering either side of the box ? then you would be able to get drain rods into the box