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How To Repair a Leaking Gutter

If you are looking for instructions on how to repair a leaking rain gutter, you have come to the right place. The following article will guide you in your repair

Rain Gutters
As rain gutters age the sealent at the joints break down and the gutter start to leak. The dripping gutter cause ice piles to develop on the ground below in the winter. As the ice freezes and melts in the gutter, the ice piles grow below, and stay throughout the winter, building into huge piles. The right time to repair the gutter joint is during dry and warm weather. Silicone does not stick well if the rain gutter is wet and cold.

In order to repair a rain gutter and get it right the first try, you must clean the metal of all old sealant and dirt. The metal should be nice and shiny. You cannot do the job right with the corner joint in place on the house. Put on a pair of latex gloves and have some rags handy. Scrape and Clean the old silicone off the joint with a screw driver so you can separate the unit from the gutter. There are two screws or nails on the inner side of the corner joint that holds it to the house. On the outside you will find two screws that attach the corner to the gutter in both directions. Remove all four screws or nails and drop the corner away from the trough. Now you can get at the inside and underside of the ends of the gutter; clean them thoroughly, top and bottom.

Take the complete corner unit down off the roof to where you can work on it. Clean off all the old silicone and dirt. Use a screw driver and wire brush to really give it a good cleaning. When the unit is clean and dry apply a bead of silicone to all the manufactured joints, top and bottom. Use a silicone especially made for rain gutters such as GE Gutter and Flashing Silicone 2, 100% silicone, transparent.

When you go to install the corner unit back unto the gutter and there happens to be bit of water in the trough; make up a dam in the trough on each side of the joint with a pile of rags. This dam will absorb any moisure and keep the area dry that you are working on.

Run a bead of silicone around the complete corner unit on the outer side before putting it back into place. Place the bead about one inch from the ends of the corner joint. Slide the unit upwards back into place. When it is tight and into place; place the four screws in the original holes.

Next silicone the inside joints. Use your finger to lightly spread the applied silicone. After the silicone has dried, the joint should be free of leaks for a long time.

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Repairing Leaking Rain Gutters; instructions for the average person.