Repairing Copper Gutter Seams

Learning how to fix leaky gutters is an easy inexpensive project you can do yourself.

Repairing copper gutter seams.

Repairing copper gutters requires rivets and solder as well as knowledge of sweating joints and seams. Gutter sealer comes in squeezable or in calking gun tubes and the price can run you from about 5 to 10 depending on the amount and quality. If it is large use a piece of galvanized metal flashing. If the hole is small you can use plastic roofing cement.

Depending on the material rain gutters generally last anywhere from a decade to 100 years with vinyl and steel the most popular and affordable gutter materials least durable and copper the. While older gutter systems can be made of sheet metal or copper with soldered seams and end caps most newer gutters are seamless aluminum which reduces breakages. Occasionally gutter seams or joints open producing major leaks. Gutters are used to gather excess water during the rainy season which will be drained and diverted away.

However routine maintenance is not a complete protection against damages on the gutters which can cause a leak. And even seamless gutters aren t immune to drips. If the metal gutter parts have rusted through you can quickly and easily patch it. This old house general contractor tom silva has a fast fix for a dripping rain gutter.

I like to use a squeezable tube for gutter sealer because it is easier to handle and you can normally get the tube right inside the gutter even if there is a gutter hanger clip near the seam. By contrast the soldered joint will create a watertight seam that makes the entire section of gutter react. Knowing how to repair plastic gutter seams early on reduces the chance of further damage and possibly a major repair. Whether it s a corner or straight joint the repair is pretty much the same.

Again surfaces must be clean and free of debris. They have seams where the gutters connect to preformed corners and to downspout outlets. See below for a shopping list and tools subscribe to this old house. Most gutters are held in place with large spikes that pass through tubular sleeves called ferrules.

Here you ll learn how to make basic repairs to the gutter seams on your copper gutters. How to repair the seams on your copper gutters. However these systems can still feature end caps that deteriorate over time. Here s how to fix gutter end caps.

Prepare the end cap. Repairing the seal in a plastic gutter seam will keep the water from pouring into your woodwork. It needs routine maintenance and cleaning to sustain a good condition. 9 may 2018 copper gutters are a unique beautiful way to finish a home.