Aluminum Gutter Leak Repair

This guide will teach you a few simple repairs that will keep your downspout joints tight and reliably leak free for many years.

Aluminum gutter leak repair.

During the first spring rainfalls i noticed that one of the corners of our front gutter was leaking. This video takes a look at how to repair aluminium guttering to a good standard that should last many years. If it is large use a piece of galvanized metal flashing. A small leak in your gutters or improperly placed downspouts can allow hundreds of gallons of water to enter your basement in a single heavy storm.

Cut the caulk with a utility knife. If water is leaking where the gutter and downspout jointly connect repair the joint connection. A typical place for leaks to occur in the gutter system is at the downspout joints. If your gutters are leaking the prime suspects are the joints between sections.

Gutter leaks usually start at rusty spots or seams that have opened up because of expansion and contraction. Standing water in gutters eventually will rust galvanized steel seams or seep through the seams in aluminum gutters. Remove the old silicone caulk from the joint connection. That said a leak or two doesn t automatically mean it s time for gutter replacement.

Do not apply silicone on top of silicone or on top of the old gutter sealant. If your gutter is still basically sound the easiest way to stop the leak is by covering the damaged area with roof and gutter repair tape available at home centers and hardware stores. If the metal gutter parts have rusted through you can quickly and easily patch it. Repair leaking joints with silicone caulk.

See below for a shopping list and tools subscribe to this old house. Often aluminum guttering will start to leak from. Adjust or add gutter hangers as needed see more about hangers below. And the worst part about having a broken gutter is that you don t realize it until its too late.

First check for signs of standing water and sagging. If the hole is small you can use plastic roofing cement. This old house general contractor tom silva has a fast fix for a dripping rain gutter. This guide explains how to fix gutter leaks specifically when repairing a small or large hole in metal gutters.

However more often then not weeks or even days later the leak returns to the befuddlement of the home owner. Here s two ways to not repair a leaky gutter and one solid way to do the job correctly so that it holds for years not weeks.