Avoid Gutter Leaks This Rainy Season
Gutter leaks can turn a well designed and maintained home into a nightmare of humidity and water damage. The gutter drainage system is designed to safely drain water from one of the largest catchment areas of the home, the roof. Without a pristine drainage system gutter leaks cause water to run down the walls of the home causing damage to doors, window frames and paint finishes.
In certain cases gutter leaks can cause water to gather in the basement and cause humidity problems throughout the home. Even when it’s not raining there are signs around the house that you may have problems with water drainage. Leaks can cause a buildup of humidity in the house. First signs that there may be a problem include clammy surfaces, mold or mildew. When these signs are first detected then it’s time to inspect the gutter drainage system. One of the easiest ways of doing this is to direct a jet of water onto the roof of the house using a garden hose. Once a continuous stream is directed at the roof then a slow walk around the perimeter of the house can allow the homeowner the opportunity to spot any leaks. It’s preferable to do this inspection prior to the onset of the rainy season as repairs are much more challenging when the threat of rain is ever present. Gutter covers can help keep debris and branches out of your gutters. It is worth noting that damage can occur during the fall season when fallen debris like leaves or branches can damage the drainage system. A visual inspection of the gutter drainage system should be undertaken when fall is over.
When undertaking gutter repair it is usually much easier to simply replace the entire section of gutter with a new section. Installing rain gutters can be troublesome and sometimes it's best to use a professional. However, where there is a small crack or hole then it could be more cost effective just to plug up this potential source of leakage. Three simple steps will ensure a repair that should last at least two seasons. First sand down the area requiring repair to ensure that all rust is removed. You can use either a steel brush or to make things even easier a power drill with a rotary brush attachment can be used. Once all the rust has been removed then the area should be coated with a thin layer of asphaltum paint. This paint is thin and is easy to apply. Once this layer is dry then apply a layer of plastic or roofing cement and while this is still wet apply a layer of heavy aluminum foil to complete the repair. For obvious reasons it’s better to effect these repairs prior to the wet season.
Another potential source of water damage can be found around the seams of a gutter drainage system. A seam leak can be detected in the same way as any gutter leaks. If in doubt about the quality of the work originally down when installing the gutters then the first port of call is to get the original installer back in to have a look at the leaking seals. If most of the seals are leaking and the gutters are fairly new then it is probably an installation problem which is the responsibility of the original installers. In older gutter drainage systems a seam leak can be repaired using butyl caulking or silicone.
