Gutter joints are an essential component of your rainwater guttering system. They help keep rainwater from damaging your foundation and basement by directing it away from the sides of your home.
Over time, though, gutters can become clogged with dirt and debris and need to be cleaned out regularly. Gutter joints can also develop leaks if they aren't correctly installed or maintained over time.
Fortunately, fixing a leaky gutter joint is relatively easy and inexpensive if you know how to do it yourself.
This guide will walk you through how to fix a leaky gutter joint to prevent water damage in your attic, basement or garage while saving money on costly repairs down the road.
Here's how:
Clean Out the Gutters
Clean out your gutters by removing any leaves or debris clogging them up and causing water to pool in certain areas. This will help you identify where the leak is coming from and make it easier to fix it.
Remove Old Gutter Joints
If you're working on a metal gutter system with old rubber gutter joints, use a hammer or chisel to break them apart along their seams. You may need help with this part, as it can be difficult if multiple joints are connected simultaneously.
Once the old rubber has been removed, remove any nails or screws that remain behind so that nothing isn't anything left sticking out from either side of the joint itself.
Clean off Any Leftover Debris
Remove any leftover leaves and other debris from around the joint. This will make it easier to see where the water is coming from.
Next, remove all old sealants from the joint using a putty knife or utility knife. You may have to use some elbow grease, but it is worth it in the long run.
Once you have removed all the old sealants, wipe down both surfaces with a clean cloth to remove any leftover debris from either side of the joint.
Shop for New Gutter Joints if Necessary
If there is extensive damage to a section of your gutters, consider replacing that section instead of trying to repair it.
Replacing damaged sections will save time because you won't have to repair each section separately. You can also find replacement parts online or through local hardware stores if you don't want to replace the entire section.
If you choose to replace a section of your gutters, make sure that you match up all the other parts correctly so that they fit together seamlessly.
Prepare and Apply the Sealant on the Joint
Apply a thick bead of silicone sealant around each joint on both sides of your gutter system, ensuring no gaps between the joints or between them and the building's roofline.
Once you've applied enough sealant to cover both sides of each joint line, let it dry completely before reattaching the gutter sections.
Replace Old Bolts, Nuts & Screws
Once your joint has been cleaned out, you can fit in new bolts, nuts and screws as required to reattach it back together again. Make sure that all of these are of good quality so that they do not break when tightening them up, but also make sure that they are not too tight.
Use an adjustable wrench to fit in new bolts and nuts where needed and secure them with washers and wing nuts to stay securely in place.
Common Causes of Leaks in Gutter Joints
When gutters are installed, the joints between the gutters and the fascia board are sealed with caulking or putty. But these joints can crack or separate from the fascia board over time. Water can seep through the joint and leak into the walls when this happens.
However, over time different factors cause leaks in these joints. These factors include:
Fascia board rots or warps
The wood on which gutters rest becomes rotten or warped over time due to moisture. This causes gaps between the gutter and fascia board, allowing water to seep inside your house.
Gutters sag
As gutters age, they tend to sag and hang lower than they should, allowing water to accumulate in them and drip down through the joints, which will now be twisted. This causes damage to your siding and foundation over time and increases the risk of flooding inside your home during heavy rainfall events.
Incorrect Sealant Usage
If you've had new gutters installed recently but aren't seeing any improvement in your problem areas - especially if it's been more than a year since installation - then there's a chance that they may be leaking because they were improperly installed in the first place!
Loose Fasteners
One of the most common causes of leaks is loose fasteners.
Over time, the screws that hold down your gutter panels may loosen and allow water to leak. This can happen at any time during the year, but it's usually worse during heavy rains when more water runs through the gutters and puts more pressure on them.
Incorrect Slope
If your gutters have a too steep slope or one that matches your roof's pitch, water may pool in the joints rather than flow past them. This can lead to leaks in the joints and eventually cause them to rust out completely if left untreated long enough.
How to Prevent Gutters from Leaking
The gutters on your commercial building are a crucial component in preventing water damage and protecting the structural integrity of your building.
Gutters are designed to direct rainwater away from the roof of your commercial building, where it can cause extensive damage if allowed to run across the roof surface.
Here's how to prevent gutters from leaking in your commercial buildings:
Inspect Your Gutters
The first step in preventing gutter leaks is to inspect them regularly. Check for signs of wear and tear, such as cracks or holes that have developed over time.
If you notice any signs of damage, make repairs before they become more serious and lead to leaks. Fix leaking gutters and clear blocked downpipes urgently before they become expensive problems.
Clean Your Gutters Regularly
Another thing that you need to do is clean your gutters frequently so they don't clog up with debris and other things like leaves. Such things can clog up the drainage system and cause leaks inside your building or outside where it will be visible.
Conclusion
A common cause of leaks in commercial buildings is poor workmanship, often due to inexperienced or rogue builders. Owners also compromise on quality when buying materials and finishing work, resulting in improperly installed gutters.
So, getting a third party to check your new building's waterproofing is a good idea since it isn't that expensive compared to the damage it can cause.