Rain Gutter Repair

A rain gutter is built in the roof system for accumulating and diverting rainwater and melted snow. Rainwater drips erode the soil around the building's foundation, splash muddy water onto the walls, and cause seepages in the basement. Rain gutters and downspouts are installed using a variety of materials like galvanized or painted steel, painted aluminum, copper, PVC pipes, concrete, stone, wood, fiber, etc. There are three ways by which rain gutters can be incorporated in a building's structure.

• A metal trough which is suspended beyond the roof edge, and below the slope of the roof.
• A narrow channel running along the lower edge of the roof slope, and opening into a pipe with a opening downwards.
• A stone or brick narrow channel built beneath the roof edge.

Rain Gutter Cleaning and Repair

Blocked or clogged gutters cause damage to the foundation by seeping water into them, and stagnant water will allow mosquitoes to breed, and grasses and weeds to grow in the narrow trough of the rain gutter. Repairing and cleaning rain gutters is equally important as installing them.

Clogged Rain Gutter
Open gutters will collect leaves, nuts and bark pieces into its narrow channels and block the water collection system. Most clogs occur around openings or joints of the pipe or troughs. Once the gutter is blocked, the water will run over its sides or cause seepage in the building. To fix this problem, use ladders to climb up in order to reach the clogged spot. Push a garden trowel, and slide it up and down a few times, to pull out the debris, and flush or hose down with water. One can also use a vacuum cleaner to suck out all debris. Placing gutter guards will help filter out debris.

Leaking Rain Gutters
Leaking gutters pose serious problems, as one may not even realize that there is a leak. Leaking can be caused by disconnected joints, cracks or holes, as a result of wear and tear of the trough over the years, or due to a heavy downpour. A thorough inspection of the entire rain gutter passage should be done to assess the damage and its repair mechanism.

• Small Holes or Cracks: For smaller cracks, wipe the area around it completely dry, either using a cloth or a newspaper. Clean out rust, using some rust removal solution, and clean out any debris around it. Seal the crack with some water-resistant glue, and check for its effectiveness by flushing some water down.

• Large Holes or Cracks: Large cracks need effective sealing, as they may not be able to withstand water pressure and burst open. Wipe dry the cracked area, and clean out rust and debris. Cut out a thin steel sheet, and place it above the cracked portion or try to place in inside (if your hand reaches the cracked part of the trough). Using some water-resistant glue, paste the steel sheet to seal the holes.

Disjointed Trough or Downspouts
Disjointedness occurs when the force of water erodes the nuts and bolts holding the joints together. To fix this defect, simply press the two sides back together and tighten the nuts and bolts on them. Try treating the screws with a rust-proof solution, to increase their longevity.

Broken trough and downspouts need to be replaced. When gutters and downspouts get damaged, heavy rainwater or melting snow can seep into house walls right down to the ground below, chipping way at the paint as well. It can weaken the foundation and flood basements. Repairing rain gutters on time will ensure none of the above-mentioned damages occur to your building.