How to Repair Leaky Gutters

Gutters play a very important role in protecting your house from water damage and rot. The gutters divert water away from the house, preventing water from collecting on the roof, house and near the foundation. You need to keep your gutters clean and free from debris so that the water is properly channeled away from the house. Be sure to inspect your gutters on a frequent basis and check for leaks or signs of disrepair. Two things you really need to look for are leaks in the gutter's seams or holes in the gutters. If you find any holes or leaks in the gutters, you need to repair the gutters right away. Here are tips for how to repair leaky gutters.

The first step is to collect the supplies and tools you will need for this home improvement project. You will need paper towels, a scouring pad, sponge, dish soap, fiberglass resin, roofing cement, gutter adhesive, and fiberglass patch or aluminum flashing.

Climb up on your ladder to the gutter that needs to be repaired. Use your sponge to soak up any water that is standing in the gutter. Scrub and clean the cutter thoroughly using your sponge and dish detergent. Rinse the gutter out with water and dry it completely with paper towels.

Apply gutter adhesive to any leaks in the gutter or on the seams of the gutter. Spread the adhesive so that it covers the entire hole or seam where the leak is. Let dry.

If there are larger leaks that need to be repaired you can use aluminum flashing. Apply gutter adhesive around the edge of the hole. Then cut some aluminum flashing two inches wider and two inches longer than the hole that you need to cover. Place the aluminum flashing over the hole and press down into the gutter adhesive to adhere it. Add some roofing cement around the edge of the flashing to seal and prevent water seepage.

Alternatively, you can repair water leaks with a fiberglass patch instead of using aluminum flashing. Apply the gutter adhesive around the hole just as you did with the aluminum flashing. Cut a fiberglass patch two inches wider and two inches longer than the hole you will be covering. Place the patch over the hole and press it into the gutter adhesive to adhere. Then use a brush to spread fiberglass resin across the fiberglass patch. After the resin dries, put roofing cement across the patch and over the patch's edge so that it is thoroughly sealed.

Repairing leaky gutters is not difficult to do. You just need a few tools and some of your time. Make sure you take the time to inspect and repair your gutters on a regular basis.