How to Caulk the Corners of a Leaking Gutter

Leaky gutters will cause water issues around your home.

A leaky gutter can cause water to pool around your foundation. Often a leaky gutter is the result of a split seam and a small amount of silicone caulk will help to prevent the leaks in the future. When repairing a leaky gutter seam, you must take steps to ensure the caulk can properly adhere to the metal surface. Otherwise, the caulk will quickly peel off and the seam will start leaking again.

Things You'll Need

• Rag
• Nylon bristle brush
• 40-grit sandpaper
• Mineral spirits
• Silicone caulk
• Caulk gun
• Utility knife

Instructions

1. Clean the inside of the gutter with a wet rag to remove any dirt and debris. Thoroughly dry the inside of the gutter with a clean towel. If you have caked on dirt, use a nylon bristle brush to break up the dirt.

2. Sand the interior seam of the gutter with sandpaper to add texture to the metal surface. 60-grit sandpaper works well for this. Clean the sanding dust off the surface of the metal with mineral spirits and a clean rag.

3. Position the caulk tube into the caulking gun and cut the tip of the tube off at a 45-degree angle.

4. Place the tip of the caulk tube at the top of the seam. Squeeze the trigger on the caulk gun as you move the tip down the seam.

5. Press the caulk into the seam with your fingertip and allow the caulk time to dry.

References

• HouseTask: Repairing Your Home's Gutters; Jim Sulski
• Extreme How-To: The Ins and Outs of Gutters and Downspouts; Matt Webber