Repairing Gutters

A roof sheds water, but it’s the gutter and downspout system that carries the water away from the house. Most gutters and downspouts are made from galvanized steel, aluminum, or vinyl, though you may find some made from wood or copper.

Gutters are attached to the eaves of the house with strap, bracket, or; most commonly, spike-and-ferrule hangers. Downspouts are attached to the exterior walls with straps.

To work effectively, gutters and downspouts must be in sound condition with watertight joints; they must slope properly and be free of leaves, twigs, and other debris. Regular maintenance is crucial to avoid flooded gutters. In fall and spring, clean out debris with a hose and scrub brush.

Fixing Door Drainage Make sure the gutters drain properly by running water through them. If drainage is slow, reposition gutters; they should slope toward the downspouts at a rate of 1-inch for every 20 linear feet. To correct low spots, adjust the hangers. Very long gutters often drain very slowly or not at all. The remedy: Raise the middle and install a downspout at each end.

Repairing Water Damage Test for weaknesses in gutters, downspouts, and fascia boards by probing with an awl, thin screwdriver, or pocket knife. Also look for flaking or peeling paint, rust spots, loose spikes, and leaky joints. If you find a rotted fascia board, carve out the bad spots and fill them in with an exterior-grade wood putty or simply replace the damaged section of board with a piece of well­seasoned lumber(apply a wood preservative first).

Also tighten loose hangers and replace any that are broken. Check that downspout straps are secured to the house walls and that all elbow connections are tight. Secure loose elbows with ½-inch sheet-metal screws or pop rivets. If a large section of gutter is badly damaged, replace the whole section.

Fixing Leaks And Holes If wood gutters leak, let them dry out thoroughly, then repaint the insides with latex house paint. You can seal pinhole leaks with dabs of roofing cement.

For metal gutters that are rusting, thoroughly wash the gutter of all dirt and debris, and wipe the damaged area dry. Then use a wire brush or coarse sandpaper to remove any paint, grease, or corrosion. Wipe the surface clean with a rag. Apply aluminum paint to the inside and rust-preventative zinc-based primer to the outside.

Three Gutter Repairs

Fix a leaky joint

Apply silicone sealant or butyl-rubber caulking to seal around the seams between sections on the inside and outside of the gutter.

Patch a small hole

Using a putty knife, patch with a thin coat of roofing cement, spreading the cement and extending it beyond the hole in all directions.

Patch a large hole

Apply a thick, uniform layer of roofing cement to the damaged area, extending the cement 6 inches beyond each side of the hole. Then, to cover the roofing cement, cut a repair patch from a piece of aluminum, copper or galvanized metal flashing, depending on what the gutter is made of. Embed the patch in the cement, and apply another coat of cement over the top.

Unclogging Gutters And Downspouts

1. Clean out

Remove leaves, twigs, and other debris from gutter troughs(protect your hands with gloves). Loosen dirt with a stiff brush; hose all debris out of the system.

1. Flush downspouts

Clean blocked downspouts by spraying with a garden hose turned on full force. For a stubborn dog, feed a plumber’s snake into the downspout and then flush all loosened debris out with a hose.

1. Install mesh

Add mesh screens or other types of leaf catchers to deflect leaves, twigs, and other debris over the edge of the gutter. A leaf strainer will admit water and filter out debris.

Leaf-Catching System

Keep gutters free of leaves and other debris so they won’t clog and fill with water. The weight of water when they’re filled can dislodge or bend them. And, over time, sheet metal gutters may rust when water pools in them.

To cut back on gutter-cleaning chores, consider a leaf-catching system. These will filter leaves and debris from the water. But buyer beware; not all types work successfully. And a demonstration won’t necessarily reveal how one of these will work in reality. The best way to check out a system is to request the names and phone numbers of satisfied customers whom you can call.

Of course, even gutters protected by a leaf-catching system will need to be cleaned occasionally. Be sure you can remove the system easily(some are difficult to take off because they are screwed in place or tucked under shingles). And pay special attention to cost-some sophisticated leaf-catching systems are more expensive than the gutters themselves.