Water leaking from the gutter? Some advice for a do-it-yourself repair

The roof is clearly the element of our house most in contact with rain, snow, hail and wind. For this reason it can happen that, despite periodic maintenance, there is an annoying loss of water from the gutter or that, more generally, there is damage of gutter, which can cause water leaks, even small ones, which they could become harmful over time. So here are some tips for a do-it-yourself gutter repair

How to locate the damage to be repaired in a gutter

First you need to locate the water leak. Then, arm yourself with a ladder and a broom to clean the gutter of any residues, taking care to completely remove the dust and various impurities (since you are there, we recommend cleaning the gutters and routine maintenance).

Then pour some water, in order to understand which the exact joint that has suffered the crack is. Once this is done, wait for it to dry thoroughly before starting the repair. In this regard, make sure that there is no risk of rain in the following hours and days, as you will have to work on the perfectly dry gutter and you will have to give time for the special sealing strips to adhere completely.

What is needed and how to carry out gutter repair

Once the point causing the leak has been identified, cut the strip of sealing tape needed to cover the crack and position it on the joint; this is made up of an aluminum sheet coupled with a cold self-adhesive bituminous coating.

Once this is done, fix the strip to the surface to be treated by removing the protective silicone sheet with particular attention not to detach the rest of the strip as well. It is advisable to put pressure on the band in order to fix it well to the surface, using a small roller if necessary, and then spread another layer of sealing rubber on top.

Furthermore, with the help of a spatula, shape the strip, so that no depressions are created between the gutter and the part you have repaired; this will help form a thicker layer that will protect your gutter from further cracking.

To prevent the sun or heat in general from causing the sealing rubber you have applied to rise again, pour it along the entire gutter channel, so that a uniform layer is created.

After completing this repair operation, it is preferable to wait a couple of days for the part you have worked on to dry thoroughly, so that the strip and the sealing rubber become one with the gutter. We recommend that you get all the accessories you need for gutter repair.