Fixing Leaking Gutters

Fixing a leaking gutter.

Fixing a leaking gutter is a necessary home maintenance project that the average home owner can do on his own. Gutters are an important part to keeping the rain water or snow from amassing around the foundation of your home. If you don't repair a leaky gutter right away, it can lead to bigger problems like rotting your fascia boards or your foundation. Most gutters start leaking because of a hole in the bottom section of the gutter, or the seams where the gutters are joined together.

Things You'll Need

• Ladder
• Wire brush
• Water
• Rag
• Coarse grit sandpaper
• Plastic cement or butyl gutter and lap
• Aluminum canvas or fiberglass net
• Tin snips

Instructions

Small Leak Repairs

1. Clean out the gutter. Remove the leaves, twigs and other debris found inside. Wash the leaking area using a wire brush and water.

2. Dry the area by using a clean rag, or you can let the gutter air-dry.

3. Fold a piece of coarse grit sandpaper into fourths to fit inside the gutter. Rough up the surface area on the inside of the gutter over the hole and extra 6 inches beyond the hole in both directions.

4. Smear on a thin layer of plastic cement or butyl gutter and lap seal to the area, extending the coverage of the cement or sealer over the area that you roughed up with the sandpaper.

Fixing Large Holes

1. Clean the area as directed in the previous section and then dry the area.

2. Scuff up the interior of the gutter with coarse grit sandpaper, extending the area another half-inch on all sides of the hole.

3. Cut a piece of aluminum canvas or fiberglass net the same size as the hole plus a half-inch extra allowance.

4. Spread a thick layer of plastic cement or butyl gutter and lap seal over the area and place the aluminum canvas or fiberglass net over the area. Press down so it adheres to the glue.

5. Apply a coat of plastic cement or butyl gutter and lap seal over the patch. Allow the patch to dry.

References

• Home Tips: Don Vandervort's Home Tips Rain Gutters Leak
• "Do it Yourself Roofing & Siding"; Lee Foster, et al.; 1981