Michael Gentile, a California Pasadena REALTOR and home improvement specialist, gives his advice on repairing common home gutter problems.
Bigger home problems can be prevented by regular maintenance of your gutter. Read the following gutter dilemmas and the right way to fix them.
Image via WikipediaClogged Gutters/Leaks and Holes
Too much clogging in the gutters can lead to costly repairs. Make it a point to clean them yearly or bi-yearly if you have many trees near it. Remove the muck from the gutters and wash them with a garden hose. If you’re uncomfortable doing this, a pro can clean them for $50 to $250, depending on the size of your home. If your gutters get clogged often, buy gutter covers, although they cost more than the gutters. Fix sagging gutters by replacing the hangers that have been malformed. A hanger costs $10 and a fastener cost $1.
For leaky gutter joints, seal it with gutter sealants, which cost $5 apiece. You can buy gutter patching kit or make patches from metal flashing for bigger holes.
Misaligned Gutters/Downspout Too Close to Foundation
For water to flow smoothly, gutters should be sloped towards the downspouts by at least a quarter of inch every ten feet. Standing water in the gutter means it’s not sloped properly. Measure the peak to the downspout and draw a line to check which parts are misaligned. Bend the hanger to align those parts or detach the section and hang it again.
For downspouts gushing water too close to the foundation, buy cheap gutter extensions to extend them 4-5 feet away. Downspouts should be pointing several feet away from the house or the water will leak into your basement.
If you don’t have gutters, you can buy the standard aluminum type. You will shell out $4.50 to $8.50 per linear foot installed.
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