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WHY GUTTERS PULL AWAY FROM YOUR HOME
If after a large storm rolled through and you notice that your gutters are sitting a little funny. You realize that your gutters may be holding excess weight that is causing your gutters to sag and pull away from your house. If you’ve noticed your gutters pulling away from your house, it could be due to too much weight pulling out the nails. However, an experienced gutter pro can usually fix separated gutters. Project scope with this common problem all comes down to whether or not rot has crept in and whether a gutter replacement is in order.
Why Gutters Pull Away From the House
Gutters gone wild? If you’ve noticed sagging or your gutters have pulled away from your house, it’s time to fix this issue. Keep in mind that gutters sag before they pull away, so early detection is best.
These are the most common causes of sagging gutters:
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Water weight
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Leaves
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General yard debris
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Critter nests
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Incorrectly installed fasteners
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Incorrect hanger spacing
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Rotted fascia behind the gutters
Not all gutter damage happens gradually. It’s also possible that storms and extreme weather caused enough damage to get a gutter to separate. This is common with things like flying tree branches. The one thing that all separated gutters have in common is that the long nails connecting the gutter material to the roof’s fascia start to loosen. You really want to get this fixed because gutters help to stop water from pooling around your home’s foundation. In fact, standing water is a sign your gutters need repair even if you haven’t noticed damage up top. The easy fix of simply tightening your gutters today can turn into a damaged foundation if you don’t take care of it now.
One of the main reasons you can find gutters starting to pull away is incorrect installation. Knowing if your gutters were installed correctly, is important for determining if putting them back is a good option. The contractor who previously installed the gutters should have made sure that the fascia was in good condition before installing them however, it’s not always the case. If the fascia is in bad condition, you will need to replace it before installing new gutters.
How to Identify if your Gutters were Installed Incorrectly
Faulty Pitch – This is the angle that your gutters were installed at and if they are installed poorly, the water does not have a way to flow out of the downspout.
Downspout Placement – If downspouts are not installed properly, they can cause water to pool.
Defective Hangers – Hangers are the main component that keeps the gutters attached to your house. If it is not installed correctly, it can cause the gutters to become heavy and sag. You will also want to be sure that the spaces between the hangers are not too far apart. This can lead to sagging which will cause the holes in the fascia to become loose and then become the reason for the gutters to pull away from the house. Most of the time you can see where another hanger is needed by using the three-foot rule of thumb. If there are hangers farther than this distance, you should consider adding another one in the middle to be on the safe side.
Gutters also go through extreme weather conditions that can damage them. Trees and animals can also cause damage that you might not be able to see until you are at eye level with it. The best way to prevent your gutters from getting damaged is to keep up with inspections, regular cleanings, and maintenance. Even if you take preventive measure, your gutters could still pull away from the house. But how do you fix this issue? As stated earlier, you can pound them back into place however, this is only a temporary fix and the fascia holes can become larger with the constant pulling from the gutters.
In the case that this is your first time dealing with your gutters, you can call a pro. They will be able to do a full inspection and properly fix your gutters from the start. Hiring a pro can sound expensive but it doesn’t have to be as they can get discounts on the correct tools for the job and fix the gutters professionally, saving you money in the long run. Most pros are heavily against trying to do it yourself as it could cause more problems in the future.
If you want to take the do-it-yourself route, you will want to research what tools and materials you will need to get your gutters back where they belong.
1. Inspect the Gutters
Get up onto a ladder, carefully note where the gutter is pulling away from the house and note what is around those gutters. You will want to make sure there are no leaves, an animal, branches, etc. in the gutters themselves. This could be the reason your gutters are pulling away, to begin with.
2. Remove the Sections in need of Repair
If you see other moldy and old sections, you may want to consider replacing those sections as well. Once you remove the sections of gutters, inspect the fascia to see if it needs repair or replacement. One of the most important parts of repairing your gutters is the brackets. The brackets are what holds the gutters to the fascia however, when replacing them, create new holes versus using the existing ones so they don’t become larger. It is also best to cover the old holes with caulk.
3. Make sure the Hangers are in Good Condition
These are extremely important for holding your gutters in shape. If they are loose or bent, you will want to replace them immediately. There is always the option to replace your entire gutter system where you can choose the type of gutter that would work best for your house however, that could get expensive quickly and there is always the chance that it would be installed incorrectly. It would also take a while to install if you have a large house. You will also want to be sure to install protective measures, like screens, to try to prevent future gutter fixes.