Home Renovation New Haven, CT: How to Fix a Broken Gutter.

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.

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.

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.