7 Quick Tips for Gutter Maintenance

The gutter system is an important part of your houseRoof drainage is commonly neglected and gets proper attention when it's too late. Maintenance is surprisingly easy, it's just home owners are sometimes neglectful or too busy to do it. Gutters and downspouts keep the water redirected properly, which is AWAY from your house. This is extremely important especially if the house has a basement. A house that's “soaked” with water could have a weaker foundation. A weak foundation could cause sagging and result in causing cracks in your walls. Here are several tips for making repairs on gutters and downspouts.

Damaged/Leaking Downspout

Check for any loose screws or caulk used when the gutter system was first installed. Use a wire brush to scrub off any dried caulk on both pieces of the downspout joint. Check if the affected area is still in good condition or if it can still be repaired. If in doubt, it's best to replace it with a new joint. When replacing the joint, caulk it properly preventing any holes within the bond and keeping it smooth. Use screws to keep it secure and caulk them too.

Damaged Gutters

There are times that a section of your gutters will succumb to rust or be an unfortunate victim of falling branches. While some prefer changing a whole gutter section, it may be possible to use a saw and cut out the affected part and insert a new one. To do this, mark the affected part with chalk or pencil. Carefully use a hacksaw to cut the affected part. It's recommended that you place a block of wood in the unaffected part of the gutter. This prevents the latter from getting deformed while you saw. The new part that you'll be installing must overlap the gap by 2” as you will be using this overlapped space for rivets and roofing cement. You can also use caulk.

Gutter Leaks

Most of the time, leaks are caused by sections affected by rust. Use a wire brush or abrasive paper to scrape off all of the rust. Make sure you brush it all off to minimize the possibility of spreading. Apply roofing cement directly or you can use a small sheet of metal to patch it up and apply caulk. Make the cement or caulk as smooth as possible. Better yet if you want a permanent solution, you can simply replace the gutter section.

What maintenance routines do you have for your gutters and downspouts? Share it by joining the discussion at the Hallett Gutter Cover Facebook page.