|
Be
sure your downspouts direct water
well away from your house. If
necessary, add downspout
extenders that run horizontally
and carry the water away from
the house. Also consider
concrete or plastic splashblocks,
slightly sloped and extending
away from the house at least 4
feet.
The
slope of gutters may also need
to be adjusted from time to
time. Run water through them,
and if they drain slowly,
reposition them so that they
slope toward the downspouts at a
rate of 1 inch for every 20
feet. |
|
Also
check downspouts for rust,
flaking or peeling paint, leaks,
and that they are affixed
tightly against the fascia
boards. Check the fascia boards
themselves for dry rot or other
damage and if need be replace
with lumber treated with wood
preservative and finished to
match the other boards.
If
your gutters are leaking: for
non-seamless gutters the prime
suspects are the joints between
sections, for seamless gutter
there may be leaking where the
gutter is nailed to the fascia
board, the end of the gutter or
corners. To seal a leak, apply
silicone-rubber caulking
compound along the seams on the
inside. Make sure you thoroughly
clean away any dirt or debris
before applying the sealant. |
