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PhrasesNeighbourhood LifeLe grondaie sono ostruite: l'acqua tracima.
B2

Le grondaie sono ostruite: l'acqua tracima.

The gutters are blocked: the water is overflowing.

Pronunciation

gron-DA-ye — three syllables; 'gr' is a clean cluster; stress the second syllable.

When to use it

Use this to report a maintenance problem with the building's gutters to the administrator or to a neighbour. Blocked gutters (grondaie) are a common cause of water damage in Italian apartment buildings.

What it means

Grondaie (gutters) are part of the shared building structure and their maintenance is the condominium's collective responsibility. Blocked gutters cause water to overflow, potentially damaging facades, causing penetrating damp in upper-floor apartments, and eroding foundation areas. Regular autumn cleaning is essential, especially in buildings surrounded by trees.

Variations

Bisogna far pulire le grondaie prima dell'inverno.

The gutters need to be cleaned before winter.

Preventive maintenance advice; autumn cleaning before heavy rains is essential.

L'acqua del tetto sta infiltrando il muro.

The roof water is infiltrating the wall.

Consequence of blocked gutters; water infiltration requires prompt action.

Ho segnalato le grondaie all'amministratore.

I've reported the gutters to the administrator.

Standard escalation; the amministratore manages building maintenance contractors.

Mini Dialogue

— Le grondaie sono ostruite, l'acqua tracima sui muri. — Anch'io l'ho notato. Ho scritto all'amministratore. — Quando viene il tecnico? — Ha detto entro la settimana. Se non viene, lo sollecito.

— The gutters are blocked, the water is overflowing onto the walls. — I noticed that too. I've written to the administrator. — When is the technician coming? — He said within the week. If he doesn't come, I'll chase him.

Cultural Note

Italy's building maintenance culture is often reactive rather than preventive — problems are addressed when they become visible and serious, rather than through systematic preventive maintenance schedules. The amministratore di condominio is supposed to oversee preventive maintenance, but budget constraints and owner reluctance to approve expenditure often mean that roofs, gutters, and facades are repaired only after water damage has already occurred.