3 Things to Keep in Mind When Repairing Leaking Rain Gutters

Ignoring a leaky gutter can cause damage to your home’s exteriors. If you think you have this problem at home, take a read below to see what you can do to solve it.

Determine the cause of leaking
If rushing rainwater hits a blockage while running through gutters, it’s going to surge up and over that blockage, usually spilling over the sides of the gutter. Once the storm is over, grab your ladder and a pair of sturdy work gloves, and take a look inside the rain gutters. If they are full of sodden leaves and smelly muck, it’s likely that your problem isn’t so much a leaking gutter as a spillover. Using a small trowel, a gutter scoop, or your gloved hands, clear away as much debris as possible, dropping it into a bucket for disposal. Then use a power washer or the strongest blast from your garden hose to clear away any remaining grunge. Once gutters are clean, use your garden hose to fill them up with water, and watch for leaks. If water runs through to the downspout without a hitch, you’ve solved the problem. Source: BobVila

Seal the seams
Every connection on a metal gutter needs to be sealed: end caps, splices, drop outlets and miters. Buy a product that’s specifically formulated to seal gutter seams. Seam sealer can handle submersion for long periods of time. It’s also resistant to light, which it will get plenty of.

Most important, high-quality seam sealer is runny, so it can penetrate down into the seam for a durable, long-lasting connection. Most products refer to this property as “self-leveling.” And the runnier the better, so if you’re applying it on a cold day, keep the seam sealer somewhere warm so it stays fluid.

Try to remove as much of the old sealer as you can, and make sure the area you’re sealing is completely dry. Home centers usually stock seam sealer near the gutter parts. Source: FamilyHandyman

Replace large damaged areas
If you have a large area to patch that’s damaged or rusted, your best solution may be to cut that section of guttering away with a hacksaw. Then cut a new section slightly larger than the one you removed and adhere it two both sides of the old gutter using roofing cement to hold and seal it. Source: DoItYourself

Gutter problems often require you to go up a ladder with the right tools and expertise. Don’t compromise your safety. Call us, and we’ll take care of the job for you.

 

Contact:
Kerrisdale Roofing & Drains
8296 Ross St, Vancouver, BC V5X 4C6
(604) 360-2114

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