Maintenance

Gutter Basics

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.

Gutter Cleaning

To do their job, gutters and downspouts must be clear of leaves and debris. If they aren't, drain outlets will clog and rainwater will fill the gutters, back up, overflow, and eventually pull gutters loose from their mountings. Water that pools in troughs will rot wood gutters and rust metal ones.

Clean gutters at least twice a year - more often if the roof is directly beneath trees. But only take on this task yourself if you know you can work safely from a ladder or the roof. If your roof is higher than a single story or you are unsure of your job's safety, you are better off hiring a professional.

Choose a sturdy ladder and place it on a firm, level base. A tall stepladder can be easier to use than an extension ladder; if you must lean an extension ladder against a gutter, protect the gutter from bending by placing a short piece of 2-by-4 inside it. Stand on the ladder with your hips between the rails--don't lean out over the sides. Never stand on the top two rungs.

If you're comfortable working from the rooftop and your roof has a very low pitch, this can be easier than working from a ladder. But only do this under extremely safe conditions. Never work on the roof in wet, icy, or windy conditions. Wear non-slip shoes and never lean over the edge or work near power lines.

Contact the Experts

As a homeowner there's only so much maintenance you can do yourself. The best practice for any major maintenance concern is to call a professional. If you have non-seamless gutters, the long-term solution is to replace your gutters with seamless aluminum gutter. Please Contact Rain Master today for a free estimate and eliminate those leaks forever.