How to Repair Steel Gutters
Gutters collect water and direct it away from your home to prevent water damage. Steel gutters are one type that many homeowners select, because they are inexpensive, costing approximately $4 to $8 per installed linear foot. However, steel gutters eventually rust, creating holes in your gutters that will cause them to leak. Leaky gutters inevitably lead to extensive roof damage. Steel gutters should be repaired immediately and it is very easy to do so. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Ladder
- Gloves
- Steel wool or abrasive pad
- Utility knife
- Putty knife
- Caulk gun and cartridge
- Metal flashing
- Metal snips
- Asphalt flashing cement and cartridge or gutter patch
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Instructions
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To repair a hole, scrub the interior of the gutter around the hole with a piece of steel wool or an abrasive pad. You may need a a ladder to reach the gutters on top of the house.
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Using your metal snips, cut a patch from the metal flashing that is slightly larger than the hole.
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Put your rubber glove on and apply asphalt flashing cement to the back of your metal flashing with a putty knife and center your piece of metal flashing over the hole. You can use a gutter patch to do this instead of asphalt flashing cement.
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Smooth any oozing adhesive out with your finger.
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The best way to seal leaks located at the joints is to take apart the gutter in order to remove the leaking connector. Clean mating surfaces and then caulk as you put everything back together.
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Tips & Warnings
To use your caulk gun and cartridge, chop the end off the cartridge with a utility knife and put the cartridge into the gun.
