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At Family Roofing, we take great pride in our experience, expertise, quality and customer service. It is our mission to provide excellent workmanship and complete customer satisfaction from start to completion of a project. Our reputation is based on service, safety and quality, regardless of how large or small the job.

 

Leaking or Sagging Gutters

Gutters keep houses and yards in good shape by collecting roof runoff and sending it away from the foundation.  But gutters that leak aren’t doing their job properly.  It’s simple to trace the causes behind leaking gutters, and most fixes take less than half an hour to complete.

Most gutters drip a little bit, but it’s time to fix the leak when the drip turns into a stream.  Here are the top reasons why gutters leak, along with fixes.

Gutters may have small screw holes created by an installer or larger holes resulting from damage from a tree or ice.  Repair gutters with holes by applying metal flashing over the hole with gutter sealant.

Gutter seams can leak water, especially if the seams have not been sealed.  Downspout elbows or  downspout round drops can leak, too.  Fix a leaking gutter seam or downspout junction by applying butyl rubber gutter sealant over the seam.

Gutter End Caps Are Leaking

End caps close the ends of the gutters to prevent water from leaking.  Loose end caps will leak water.  The end caps may have been installed without sealant. Installing a new end cap with sealant and crimping down the metal will fix the leak.

Before attempting any fixes, check out the gutters to make sure of the following:

• Gutters have no standing water: Gutters with built-up, standing water will leak through small holes or seams or they may leak over the top edge of the gutter.  Access the gutters on a ladder and remove the clogs.

• Gutters are properly sloped: Optimal gutter slope, or pitch, for most areas is 1/4 inch per 10 feet.  Have the gutters reinstalled if the slope is less.

• Gutters are not sagging: Gutters that droop in front will leak.  Hold a bubble level on top of the gutter in various places, from front to back.  Add, move, or adjust the structural hangers to bring the gutters back to level.

• Gutters are properly installed: Check that seamed gutters and downspouts run in the correct direction.  Gutters should be overlapped so that the top overlap faces the downspout.  Downspouts should be fitted so that a male joint is always above a female joint.

Why Do Gutters Leak and Sag?

Gutters leak and sag for various reasons.  Most often, sagging and leaking or symptoms of other problems with your gutters.  Knowing the reason why your gutters are leaking or sagging is crucial to being able to fix them effectively.

The key here is that if you don’t fix the issue right away, leaking or sagging gutters can lead to more significant problems, like:

• Damage to your foundation

• Structural issues in your roof

• Insect infestation

• Mold growth

Your gutter system channels the water away from your home’s foundation while protecting the structural integrity of your roof and home.  However, gutters must stay in shape and remain free of clogs, sags, and holes for them to work correctly.  Poor installation, low-quality materials, weather elements, and lack of maintenance may cause leaks and sags in your gutter.

Improper Gutter Sizing

Gutters and downspouts come in all shapes and sizes!  Some homeowners might think the variations are for cosmetic reasons, but the different sizes are actually for practical purposes.  Your gutter’s size correlates directly to how much rainfall it can collect.  If your gutters are narrow, they won’t be able to drain the rainwater fast enough.  Your gutters will fill with water, and they’ll get heavy.  Sure, two to three inches of water sitting in a gutter doesn’t seem like it would be that heavy, right?  However, three inches of water across a 20-foot long and five-inch wide gutter adds nearly 100-pounds of weight!

On the other hand, if your gutters were wider and deeper, they could collect significantly more rain and drain it faster.  This way, there’s less of a chance of water sitting in your gutter to weigh it down and cause sagging.  In the U.S., most homes have at least a 5-inch wide gutter to help direct the rainwater away from the house.  That said, there are a few factors related to size that can influence the performance of your home’s gutters and cause sagging.

Your Roof’s Slope

If your roof is steep (for instance, like the roof of an A-frame house),  you will need wider gutters to accommodate rainfall rushing down your roof’s steep angles. The steep slope makes the gutters fill with rain faster, so you’ll want wider gutters to drain it quickly to avoid sagging.  Conversely, you won’t need gutters as wide to avoid sagging if you have a relatively flat roof (like those often found in the Southwest or hotter climates).

Amount of Rainfall in Your Area

If you live in an area with frequent, heavy rain (like New Orleans), you’re going to need a heavy-duty gutter that’s large enough to handle powerful rainfall.  On the other hand, if you live in a dry area, like Las Vegas or southern California, you won’t need ultra-wide gutters since there is very little rain.

Downspout Size

Your house’s downspout needs to be large enough to deal with heavy rainfall.  If it is too narrow, it can quickly fill up with water and overflow your gutters.  If your downspout is undersized, it could render your gutters useless and even damage them!   Improper gutter sizing can cause the gutter to fill up with water and strain the entire drainage and gutter system.  This can lead to the wear and tear of your gutter hangers, which can cause the gutter to sag.  Unfortunately, if your gutters start sagging, you’ll have to install brand new ones.

Clogged Gutters

Just like your sink or bathtub drain can get clogged, your gutters can too.  However, instead of getting clogged with hair, gutters tend to get clogged with leaves, dirt, sticks, and other outdoor debris.  A buildup of leaf litter and branches from nearby trees can become extremely heavy and put a strain on your gutters.  This extra load will eventually lead to dropping.  On top of that, debris buildup can corrode and weaken drains.

Debris in your gutter may also be the result of pest and critter infestation.  You might have a crafty squirrel stashing away acorns for the winter or a bird that found the perfect spot for a nest.  Whatever critter is trespassing in your metal gutters, the outcome is usually the same– gutter damage or clogging.  Clogs are easy to spot.  You will see leaking at the gutter seams, end caps, fasteners, gutter joints, and even over the edge of the gutters.  You can avoid damage to your gutters by hiring a professional gutter service to clear them once or twice a year.  However, if you live in a bigger home or with lots of close trees, consider doing it more often.  Gutter experts might even recommend installing screens on top of your roof to keep debris out to prevent sagging.

Inadequate Support

Your rain gutter needs proper support to handle the weight of water traveling through it.  If the screws, nails, and brackets responsible for holding the downspout drains and gutters aren’t properly secured, they’ll start sagging.  Usually, this type of issue is caused by an inexperienced gutter installer.  They’ll work fast and without care and fineness. And sure, they’ll install gutters fast and cheap, but what does that matter if they fall off your home in a week or a month?

Another common improper installation issue is gutter hangers being spaced too far apart.  If there are not enough hangers for the length of the gutter, it will start dropping in no time.  In this scenario, it is best to hire a seasoned gutter professional for gutter installation in the first place.

Professional Solutions for Sagging Gutters