Repairing Copper Gutter Seams

There are three main steps to repairing copper gutters that have been caulked.

Repairing copper gutter seams.

Over time all things copper acquire a patina first turning a rich brown and then that classic green brown blue coating. Get ready to seal. If some of it sticks don t worry. See below for a shopping list and tools subscribe to this old house.

For sealing and joining lap seams in aluminum or vinyl gutters and downspouts we recommend a permanently flexible and water resistant sealant. To restore or repair your rusted box gutter liner you first need to clean the gutter and remove any debris. If possible flush out gutters with a garden hose then allow them to air dry for a clean fix. If water backs up out of the downspout instead of easily draining remove the downspout s base this.

Without them solder seams can break and the metal itself can tear thus causing leaks to occur. This old house general contractor tom silva has a fast fix for a dripping rain gutter. Run water into the gutter at the top of the downspout and watch the drainage at the bottom. Use steel wool and gently scrub the crack to make the surface clean and stamped.

The preferred method for mending a hole in a copper gutter is to use a piece of sheet copper on the inside of the gutter. You can paint this primer directly over the existing liner and any rust that exists. All residue must be removed to ensure that the seal that you re placing adheres fully. Find the crack and scrub the area around it to give way for a small plastic replacement sheet to fit into place.

Scrubbing the crack reach your gutter by using an extension ladder. Clean the outside of the gutter where the seam has been leaking. Expansion joints allow for the segments of gutter to move freely during expansion and contraction. Wipe away the dirt using a rag.

Chances are the sealant will pull out easily. Alternatively you can use a joint or decorative cap on the exterior or a piece of gutter laid over the old gutter. Whatever piece of metal you choose rivet it into place with copper rivets then solder with copper flux.