How to Repair a Water Trough

Damaged or leaky gutters can easily be repaired.

The most common type of water trough you see every day are the gutters attached to houses. Leaks in a gutter typically occur at the seams where two pieces are joined. Rust can also eat a hole in a steel gutter. Repairing gutters is done with sealant or by applying a patch. You can obtain the tools and materials needed for the repair at your local home improvement store.

Things You'll Need

• Sponge
• Paper towel
• Aluminum gutter sealant
• Twig
• Paint stirrer
• Tape measure
• Sheet metal
• Tin snips
• Roofing cement

Instructions

Apply a Sealant

1. Soak up any remaining water in the gutter with the sponge.

2. Mix a small amount of dish soap with water in a small bucket. Use the sponge to clean the area around the leak. Wipe the gutter dry with the paper towel.

3. Apply a bead of the aluminum gutter seal liberally to the seam or crack where the gutter is leaking.

4. Spread the gutter sealant by using a twig or break off a small piece from a wooden paint stirrer.

Apply a Patch

1. Measure the size of the hole in the gutter and then add about 4 inches.

2. Measure a small piece of sheet metal to match the measurements in step 1 and cut it with the tin snips.

3. Apply roofing cement to the inside of the gutter around the hole. Set the sheet metal patch on top of the roofing cement.

4. Apply additional roofing cement to the top of the sheet metal, completely covering its surface.

5. Allow the roofing cement to dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Gutter sealant will begin to shrink as it dries.

References

• Ask the Builder: How To Fix A Leaky Gutter Video
• HomeTips: Rain Gutters Leak