By Matthew Baring-Gould, Kingscliff-based drainage plumber. Servicing Tweed Heads for 4 years. 5.0 stars across 173 Google reviews. Licensed NSW 383340C and QLD 15036450. ABN 74 605 392 348.
Called out for a roof leak at Banora Point. Found the gutters on the back side of the property completely full of dirt and debris, which was the leak cause. Hand-cleaned the gutters, pressure cleaned them back to new, found three broken roof tiles and silicone-sealed them temporarily (flagged for a roofer to replace). Cleaned all gutters around the property. Ran a stormwater hydrojet and CCTV survey to confirm the receiving drain was clean. Pressure cleaned the ground where debris had fallen.
What the customer called us for
Owner called us out for a roof leak and asked us to also clear the stormwater drains while we were on site.
What we found when we got there
The gutters on the back side of the property were completely full of dirt, mud and leaf debris. On a flat-pitched roof, once the gutters are packed, water has nowhere to go but back under the tiles and into the roof cavity. That was almost certainly the leak cause. Also found three broken roof tiles that would have been letting water in regardless, and no overflow outlet in the patio area so water was running back against the house in heavy rain.
Why we did it this way
A roof leak is a symptom, not a cause. Nine times out of ten on a Tweed coast property it is blocked gutters, broken tiles, or no overflow path. The cheapest fix starts outside, not inside. Clean the gutters, inspect the tiles, check the drainage path. If the leak stops, you have saved yourself a roofer visit. If it continues, you have at least ruled out the three most common causes and narrowed the problem to something a roofer should look at. We also recommend adding a downpipe in the patio area for heavy rain overflow.
What we did on site
- Gained roof access via ladder.
- Found the back-side gutters completely full of dirt, mud, and leaf debris.
- Hand-cleaned the majority of the debris out of the gutters.
- Pressure cleaned the gutters back to clean metal.
- Checked all other gutters around the property and cleaned them.
- Found three broken roof tiles and sealed them with silicone (temporary, flagged for a roofer).
- Ran the hydrojet and CCTV through the stormwater system.
- Confirmed the stormwater lines were in good free-flowing condition after a slight debris clear.
- Pressure cleaned the ground where debris had fallen.
- Recommended an additional downpipe in the patio area to handle heavy rain overflow.
The result
Gutters cleaned back to new. Three broken tiles sealed temporarily and documented for a roofer. Stormwater system confirmed clean. Overflow path recommendation given to the owner.
If you have the same issue
If your roof is leaking on a Tweed coast property, start with the gutters before you call a roofer. Flat-pitch roofs on properties with a lot of trees need gutters cleaned at least twice a year. The money you spend on a plumber for a gutter-and-stormwater combined visit is almost always less than the money you spend on a roofer chasing a leak that is actually a drainage problem. Call Matty on 0447 188 394 or request a quote.
Customer names and addresses have been withheld. Individual results vary. Drain Masters Plumbing is licensed in NSW (383340C) and QLD (15036450).
Frequently asked
Can blocked gutters really cause a roof leak?
Yes, very commonly. Once a gutter is packed, water that hits the roof cannot enter the gutter. It pools behind the gutter line, runs up under the tiles, and enters the roof cavity through the eave. Once you clean the gutter, the leak often stops immediately without any work on the roof itself.
Why silicone the broken tiles if they need a roofer?
To get the owner through the next storm until a roofer can get out. Silicone is a temporary waterproof seal, not a tile repair. Broken tiles need to be replaced because the silicone eventually ages and cracks. But a silicone patch today is the difference between no leak this week and another ceiling repair.
Do I need an extra downpipe in the patio area?
If your existing downpipe system cannot handle a heavy storm (you can see it overflow at the gutter line in a big rain), yes. An extra downpipe is cheap to install and solves the overflow problem permanently. Signs you need one: water running down the wall during rain, water pooling at the base of the house in a storm, consistent damp patches on walls after rain.
Related services
Service area: Blocked drains in Tweed Heads and the Northern Rivers
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