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Need Gutters Repaired

Maintenance of gutters is an important but often neglected task in home upkeep. Gutters are essential for diverting water away from a home’s foundation, preventing water-related issues like damage and flooding. However, debris buildup over time can lead to clogs and potential damage to the gutter system. Regular inspection and upkeep of gutters are crucial to ensure they are working effectively.

One of the most common issues with gutters is leaks. Leaks can occur due to rust, corrosion, or damage from heavy storms or falling branches. If left untreated, leaks can lead to water seeping into the walls and foundation of a house, causing extensive damage and potentially leading to mold growth. Repairing leaks in gutters is essential to maintain the structural integrity of a home and prevent costly repairs in the future.

Another common issue with gutters is sagging or pulling away from the house. This can be caused by the weight of debris and water buildup in the gutters, as well as improper installation or aging of the gutter system. Sagging gutters can prevent water from draining properly, leading to overflow and potential damage to the roof and foundation. Repairing sagging gutters may involve reattaching them to the house or replacing damaged sections of the gutter system.

In addition to leaks and sagging, gutter repair may also involve cleaning and unclogging gutters. Debris such as leaves, twigs, and dirt can accumulate in gutters over time, leading to blockages that prevent water from draining properly. Regularly cleaning gutters can help prevent clogs and ensure that water flows freely away from the house. In some cases, it may be necessary to install gutter guards or screens to prevent debris from entering the gutter system.

When it comes to gutter repair, it is important to hire a professional contractor with experience in working with gutters. DIY gutter repair can be dangerous and may result in further damage to the gutter system or injury to the homeowner. A professional contractor will have the necessary tools and expertise to inspect, repair, and maintain gutters effectively, ensuring that they are functioning properly and protecting the home from water damage.

When hiring a gutter repair contractor, it is essential to research and compare different companies to find one that is reputable and reliable. Check online reviews, ask for references, and inquire about the contractor’s experience and qualifications. A reputable contractor will provide a detailed estimate of the cost of the repair, as well as a timeline for completing the work. It is important to communicate openly with the contractor and discuss any concerns or questions you may have about the gutter repair process.

In conclusion, gutter repair is a crucial aspect of home maintenance that should not be overlooked. Regular inspection, cleaning, and maintenance of gutters can prevent costly damage to the home and ensure that water is properly directed away from the foundation. Issues such as leaks, sagging, and clogs should be addressed promptly by a professional contractor to prevent further damage and maintain the structural integrity of the home. By investing in gutter repair, homeowners can protect their property and ensure that their gutter system is functioning properly for years to come.

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Gutter trouble? When to replace instead of a repair

How often should my gutters be cleaned?

  •  It should be more than once a year.
  •  Annually, at a minimum. If you have a lot of trees, several times a year.
  • At the minimum, they need to be checked out and cleaned in the spring and fall.

What are some indications I may need to repair or replace my gutters?

  •  Look for leaks in corners, staining or overflows from water, or rust in steel gutters. They should hang level, so if your gutters are turning down more toward the front, something needs to be done.
  •  With galvanized steel gutters, you’ll start seeing rust. If the gutters aren’t secured well, they’ll start sagging. Also look for joints pulling apart or overflowing during rain.
  • If you see water coming out from behind the gutter, there’s something wrong.

What are the average prices for gutter replacement or repairs?

  • For an average 2,000-square-foot house, replacement usually costs $1,200 to $1,500, and repairs can range from $200 to $1,000.
  • For an average 2,000-square-foot home, the average repair costs $600, and replacement is $1,500.
  • Repairs cost about 60 percent of the cost of replacement. Your average house is about $1,000 for new gutters, so it can cost about $600 to fix them. Most of the time it’s better to replace them.

Do you recommend gutter guards, screens or covers?

  • Screens don’t work as well because of the fuzzies from oak trees in the spring. Gutter hoods are expensive, but they make your gutters zero to little maintenance, so they say!
  • There are several different types and we recommend the one that’s right for your situation.
  • We recommend using aluminum type gutter guards. With a spring/Fall Gutter Cleaning!

How long will new gutters last? How can I extend their lifetime?

  • If you maintain aluminum gutters, they can last almost forever. Clean them, resecure the fasteners and reseal the corners and end caps.
  • We use stainless aluminum and the materials have a lifetime warranty. Keep them cleaned out, put leaf guards on them and get them adjusted from time to time.
  • Aluminum gutters should last a lifetime. Just keep them clean and sometimes, because of settling of the house, they may need to be raised or lowered.
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How to Fix a Loose or Sagging Gutter

How to Fix a Loose or Sagging Gutter

If a gutter sags too much, it looks unsightly, and if the sag is in the wrong direction, water collects, giving mosquitoes a breeding ground and creating leaks. It’s standard to pitch gutters 1/16 inch per foot (2 mm per 30 cm) toward the nearest downspout, but even a level gutter will drain. Assuming that the spikes, brackets or hangers are installed correctly, most commonly a gutter sags due to ice and snow damage or because a ladder has bent or dislodged its supports.

Instructions

If the gutter is supported by spikes (see A)

1. Straighten a bent spike by pushing up on the gutter at that location with a pry bar (you’ll likely need a ladder to reach it); or remove a nailed gutter spike for replacement by locking the head of the spike firmly in a pair of locking pliers, then tapping the side of the jaws with a hammer to pull the spike out.

2. Replace a spike that has fallen out or been removed with a threaded gutter spike. For a tighter fit, press a few wood slivers coated with exterior adhesive or epoxy into the nail hole first, this is for the do it your self. Although It is highly recommended that gutter with these types of hanging systems be rehung with reinforced inside hidden hangers with screw.

If the gutter is supported by hangers or brackets

1. Remove the gutter by unclipping the brackets and disconnecting it from the downspout(s). This is definitely a job for two or more people.

2. Replace the damaged bracket. Fill the old screw holes with caulk or exterior putty and let dry. Install the new bracket at approximately the same height and position as the old one. Repeat as needed for other brackets and tighten any loose screws before reinstalling the gutter.

If the gutter is supported by hangers or straps (see C)

1. If the strap is bent down, press down on it about 1 inch (2.5 cm) up the roof from the edge of the shingle it lies under, or from the surface to which it’s nailed. Then pull up just below the point of the bend.

2. If the bracket has pulled out of the roof or needs replacing, and the roofing is asphalt shingles, disconnect the bracket from the gutter and carefully pry up the shingle to remove the nails (or screws), or drive new fasteners through the strap into the roof recommend screws.

If the gutter is supported by concealed brackets

1. Remove the mounting screw to replace a damaged bracket.

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Fixing Damaged Gutters

Rain gutters aren’t very exciting. You probably never even notice yours until something goes wrong with them. And then it’s the wrong kind of excitement.

Gutters and downspouts collect and carry away rainwater that would otherwise run off the roof, splash down and erode the soil and stain the siding. More important, gutters and downspouts form the first line of defense against a wet basement or crawl space: If you let water collect along the foundation, hydrostatic pressure will build, and water will eventually find its way inside the house. It’s equally important to keep the ground around a hillside home dry.

For these reasons it’s important that your gutters are in proper working order. Here, we’ll show you how to patch a hole, seal a leaky corner joint and secure a gutter that’s pulled away from the house. Fix these problems as soon as they occur and your gutters will work more effectively and last many years longer.

Patching a hole

Gutters develop holes in a number of ways. Rust eats through steel gutters, and copper and aluminum versions are easily punctured by falling branches or sharp tools. Occasionally, you’ll find a hole that someone drilled through a gutter in an attempt to drain standing water. (If a gutter isn’t draining properly, it’s either not sloping toward the downspout or it’s sagging and needs to be raised.)

You have to patch any hole right away so it doesn’t grow larger. Buy a tube of gutter seal ($1.40) found at any local hardware store or contact us for a free quote. It’s important that the seal is used. If you don’t you could encourage electrolytic corrosion—a process that slowly etches away one metal in favor of the other.

First, clean all debris from the gutter with a wide putty knife or plastic gutter scoop ($4). Wearing leather work gloves, scrub the area clean with a stiff-bristle wire brush. If there’s any rust around the hole, cut it out with aviation snips. Then run the seal down any open seams.

Fixing leaky joints

Over time, the joints between lengths of gutter can fail. And even seamless gutters aren’t immune to drips. They have seams where the gutters connect to preformed corners and to downspout outlets. Whether it’s a corner or straight joint, the repair is pretty much the same.

Curing sagging gutters

Most gutters are held in place with large spikes that pass through tubular sleeves, called ferrules. When a spike pulls free, a gutter can sag and, in some cases, come crashing down.

To repair a sagging gutter, you have to replace the spike with something that won’t withdraw easily, witch is the hang fast reinforced hidden hangers that gets screwed in contact us to have this performed.