Repair Or Replace Aluminum Gutters

Small openings can be cleaned with alcohol and covered over with a quality sealant.

Repair or replace aluminum gutters.

Gutter repair and replacement tips. Clean the downspout joints and replace the gaskets step 5. Clean out gutters at least once a year to make them last. Gutter replacement may be necessary if gutters are rusting or leaking.

Replace rusty gutters as soon as possible. Once the hole is clean and dry spread roofing cement around the edges of the hole and apply a patch of appropriately sized metal flashing. 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. Then you can simply replace those sections instead of tearing out your entire guttering system.

Seamless aluminum gutters last a long time up to 30 years if they ve been installed correctly. If your original gutters are straight solid and don t leak they don t need replacement period. Apply plastic roofing cement step 3. Check the downspout step 4.

Here are some warning signs that your gutters need work. Apply silicone and reassemble. Here s what you ll want to consider before deciding. Rusty areas indicate a future problem even if the rust has not yet created a hole.

However even the best products in the world experience some wear and tear eventually. Any damage is localized on one or two gutter sections. If your home center or hardware store doesn t sell pre bent flashing ask an aluminum siding contractor or local sheet metal fabricator to bend some for you. Clean the area around the leak step 2.

Gutters with holes or splits aren t reparable. With gutter replacement you can prevent water from running behind your gutters by installing a metal gutter apron flashing under the shingles and over the back edge of the gutter. You can use the same process for repairing holes in both steel and aluminum gutters. First use a stiff wire brush to remove any rust or corrosion from the hole and the surrounding area.

Gutter leaks usually start at rusty spots or seams that have opened up because of expansion and contraction. You don t have to rush to a replacement if something s going wrong however. Have them replaced by a professional who can do the job without damaging the roof or siding of your home. You only need to fix a few holes or cracks.