If you want your home to be dry and mold-free, expert gutter maintenance and repair is essential. Homeowners typically do not have the roofing, gutter, and siding expertise necessary to keep gutters and downspouts working properly. However, this skill is not difficult to learn, and if you don’t want to bring in an expert to take care of it when a problem arises, you will have to learn how to do it yourself.
No matter where you live, the procedure for repairing a gutter is pretty much the same. Renovating gutters with Gutter Guys around the world will make little difference. Gutters leak, clog, run away from the wall, damaged by storms, snow, ice, too hot in the summer, too much rain in the winter; In short, in any weather, gutters are subject to significant wear and tear over time.
Gutter repair involves climbing stairs and climbing to a height. Of course, there is a risk, so if you prefer to leave it to the experts, it is understandable. If not, do your homework on all aspects of job safety if you intend to do it yourself.
You will need a good, solid, sturdy ladder with wide rubber feet for a solid floor. You will also need a reliable assistant to hold the ladder; do not climb high stairs on your own. You will need the right tools and an understanding of what you are looking for and what to do when you encounter a problem.
Holes form in gutters and downspouts due to rust or punctures from falling branches during a storm, or in many other ways. Inspect the gutters step by step, carefully examining the entire interior surface. Clean up any residue you find and carefully inspect open areas after it has been removed.
If you find holes or perforations, you will need to repair them. Large holes or pieces that have eroded can be repaired by inserting a new gutter section. Small holes and leaks should be repaired with the gutter manufacturer’s recommended sealant.
You want the inside of the gutter to be impeccably clean and dry. Then apply sealant to the leak or holes. Apply generously as it shrinks as it dries. Then spread it out to cover the leak, making sure it fits properly against the inside of the gutter.
When it rains heavily in the fall and winter, it’s always good to know that the water is carried as planned and is not coming out of your gutters and downspouts in a way that undermines your basement by pooling alongside the water the foundation of your house, creating hydrostatic pressure and just waiting for the house to come in with all the serious moisture problems that it will eventually cause. After all, living in a damp, moldy house is no fun.
