Gutter Repair Hints

Gutter are expensive to replace.

According to Cost Helpers, an average home built in 2011 has anywhere from 120 to 250 feet of gutters installed on it. Gutters prevent rainwater from draining directly off the roof, causing the soil to erode and developing standing water around the foundation. It costs between $360 to $1,250 to have gutters installed on the home as of 2011, so gutter maintenance is important to extend the life of the gutters and there are some hints that make this maintenance easier.

Repair Holes

Holes in gutters are common because debris falls from trees and damages the gutters or a previous homeowner decided to place a hole in the gutter where water was standing. When making repairs to gutter holes it is best to use roofing cement. A hole that is not patched as quickly as possible can grow larger and cause more damage to the gutter system. Roofing cement comes in a tube like caulk and can easily patch the hole. Ensure that once the cement is deposited on the hole that you smooth out the interior surface of the cement which allows the water to flow freely past the patch.

Standing Water

A gutter that has places with standing water is not draining properly. A gutter needs to have a pitch or be angled toward the downspout to allow the water to drain properly. It is recommended that for each foot of gutter a 1/16-inch pitch is allowed. For example, a straight gutter run of 8t feet is angled 1/2 inch, or the pitch side is 1/2 inch higher than the downspout side. The pitch is a straight transition from one side to the downspout side which is done with a chalk-line.

Sagging Gutters

Every gutter design, whether seamed or seamless, develops a sag over time. Gutters are mounted to the house with a spike or large nail. A tube is placed in the mouth of the gutter and the spike is driven through the outside of the gutter, through the tube sleeve and into the overhang of the house. These spikes can pull away from the house or the gutter can rust at the spike head, causing the gutters to sag. This sag is visible and when repairing a sag you need to ensure that the pitch of the gutter was not affected. A gutter that has torn away from the spike head can be repaired by moving the location of the spike and repairing the damage the same way you would repair a hole, with roof cement. Also, check to make sure the spacing between spikes is not too large. Spikes need to be installed every 4 feet.

Clogs

A clog can occur in the gutter system because of a buildup of debris in the drainage system. The gutters must be cleaned periodically to prevent clogging, but after a large rainfall or harsh weather, clogs can develop. Most clogs occur at the elbows of the downspout or at the mouth of the downspout. Both places are easily accessible and can be cleaned by pulling the joints apart, then removing the clog. Periodically checking these two places is a good way to prevent a clog in the future. This inspection is done during periodic maintenance of the gutters. Another way of preventing clogs is by installing gutter covers. This gutter accessory is placed on top of the gutters and prevents leaves and large debris from getting into the cavity of the gutter.

References

• Cost Helper: How Much do Gutters Cost
• This Old House: Repairing Damaged Gutters by Merle Henkenius
• Dulley: How to Repair Downspouts and Gutters