Gutters are essential to keeping your roof and siding in good condition by diverting rainwater and melting snow and channeling it away from those surfaces. But if your gutters are damaged or in disrepair you can experience a host of messy, expensive problems, including damage to your roof, siding, and foundation. Signs of such disrepair include rust, dents, leaks and sagging. Whether these damaged gutters can be repaired depend on numerous factors.
Signs That It Might Be Time to Make Repairs
Because gutters are so critical to protecting your home, it’s good to be aware of signs that they’re not as effective as they should be.
- Rust: Steel gutters will rust over time, eventually erode, and begin leaking.
- Dents and damage: Dented or damaged gutters may clog more easily, leading to backups that can seep through your roof and cause water damage to interior walls.
- Sagging: Sagging usually occurs due to brackets that have loosened over time, so a piece of the gutter sags in the middle. Sagging can also be a sign that the fascia boards behind the gutters need replacement. If water pools in the sagging pieces, it can overflow, damaging shingles and siding.
- Numerous leaks and drips in several locations: If this is the issue you’re witnessing, you know your gutters are not performing at full potential.
Common Gutter Repair Options
Damaged gutter in need of repair
It is possible to make repairs when your overall gutter system is good and there are just one or two spots that need some fixing. It’s also worth repairing your gutters if they’re relatively new and you don’t want to spend money to replace them.
Common gutter repairs include:
- Caulks or patches to repair hole and leaks. However, if rust caused the holes, patching over them is not an effective solution.
- Splice in small sections where there is damage.
- Repair seams at the end, a corner, or a connection in the middle.
- Replace downspouts or elbows where leaks can occur.
Keep in mind, there are a limited number of things you can do before it’s necessary to replace your gutters, including multiple damaged pieces and leaking throughout the entire system. At that point, pouring money into something that’s got so little life left just isn’t worth it.
Maintenance: Keeping Your Gutters in Tip-Top Shape
Preventative maintenance on your gutters can save you from damage to your home along with the expense of repairing or even replacing your gutter system.
- Clean your gutters routinely. Protect against sagging, water backups, and rust by keeping your gutters clean so water flows easily through them.
- Keep an eye on environment. Oftentimes gutters can become damaged by tree branches or small animals building nests. Make sure to property prune trees located close to your house and to keep branches a safe distance from your roof and gutters.
- Find the source of the problem. Sometimes water damage and leaking are not due to defective gutters, but to rotting fascia boards behind the gutters. If this is the case, you’ll likely need to remove your gutters, repair the fascia, then install a new gutter system.
DIY or DFY? When Professional Help Makes Sense.
Gutter cleaning and repairs are jobs that some homeowners choose to do themselves. But, if you’re not comfortable climbing a ladder or performing rooftop work, it’s probably wise to call a professional to do the job for you. A pro will have the necessary tools and equipment to do a thorough, quality job taking care of your gutters. They may even know some tricks of the trade to ensure the longevity of your gutter system.
Call the Pros Who Know
The professionals at All Surface Cleaning have been helping homeowners like you since 2003. Family-owned and operated, you can count on us to provide fair estimates and high-quality work on every job we do for you. Contact us online or call us today at (503) 590-9274 to request your free estimate.
