Gutters are not the most elegant part of the house. Because of this, many homeowners tend to overlook them, although they work hard to collect and move the rainwater away from the roof. The gutter system also helps prevent water infiltration into basements and crawl spaces, which means that their role is critical. If your gutters break and water starts to pool around the foundation, eventually it will make its way inside the house, causing damage and all kinds of trouble along the way. Also, broken gutters may ruin your exterior paint job courtesy of the leakages and runoff. Therefore, gutters should always be kept in good condition, being repaired as soon as the problem is detected. We have therefore prepared a step-by-step guide to restoring a damaged gutter, to keep your home dry and your exterior paint durable. Before we begin, note that it is nearly impossible to repair PVC gutters, and they will likely need to be replaced if damaged. So the instructions in this article mostly relate to metal gutters.

The Main Problems With Gutters

First, let’s go through the most common gutter problems. The most common list of situations includes holes in gutters, poorly fitted joints, and loose gutters.

Holes in the Gutters

There are many reasons for the appearance of holes in the gutters. Gutters tend to rust, especially those made of steel. More flexible materials such as aluminum can be damaged by flying debris that punctures the surface. Branches, twigs, and sharp objects can all turn into debris. It is important to plug a hole as soon as you discover it, as the hole will only increase as water collects and flows through. To seal a hole in the gutter, you need to find a bit of tar and a repair piece for metal, making sure that it is larger than the place to be repaired. Start by cleaning the gutters and be sure to scrape and remove the accumulated dirt with a knife or a tool specially designed for cleaning gutters. Then put on gloves made from very sturdy material and scrub the spot where the hole is with a metal brush, back and forth.

Leaky Joints

Gutters collect a lot of water and over time the gaskets used to seal the gutters can fail. Even new gutters are not always equipped with picture-perfect, flawless fittings for their downspouts. As such, gutters can easily bend or cause water to pool around the foundation. Start by checking all gutter gaskets. Once you find the faulty seal, you can use a crimper to reinforce the seal. When shopping for your seamer, go for a self-leveling model. Such will better solidify the joints and offer durable results. If you are not able to find a crimper that has these features, apply rubber sealant along the joints, inside and outside of the gutters. Before re-joining, be sure to remove the old gaskets. Then thoroughly dry the area where you will be applying the product, as water can damage the connection. Next, consult the manufacturer’s instructions for applying the sealant.

How To Fix a Gutter 

First check if your gutters have standing water inside, as this could indicate that the gutters are sagging. As mentioned before, standing water will rust steel and damage aluminum. Most gutters are attached using hooks and screws. If the gutter is sagging, the hooks and screws will likely need to be replaced. Once the gutters have been fixed or replaced, you can now go-ahead to repair paint damages and get rid of any existing mold.

NHV Painters can help you with repainting or re-staining your exterior siding after water damage. We offer both exterior and interior home painting services in New Haven, Branford, Milford, Orange, North Haven, West Haven, East Haven, and the surrounding areas. Book a free estimate below to get started, or call us at (203) 606-2346 so we can chat about your project.

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