1. Clogged Gutters
What you’ll need: Wire brush, gloves, hose It’s recommended you clean your home’s gutters twice each year—once in the spring and once in the fall. This helps prevent the buildup of leaves, sticks, and other debris. To clean gutters, remove debris from gutters by hand while wearing gloves. Use a wire brush to loosen stubborn accumulations. Rinse gutters with a hose to remove remaining dirt and leaves.
2. Holes or Gaps in Gutters
What you’ll need: Sheet metal, metal snips, roofing cement, large putty knife, gutter caulk If you notice a hole in your gutters, start by cutting a piece of sheet metal to fit over the hole. On the inside of the gutter, spread roofing cement around the edges of the hole. Gently bend the sheet metal and press into roofing cement. Coat the patch with additional cement and let dry. If your gutters have gaps, seal with gutter caulk ($8, The Home Depot) and let dry.
3. Rusty Gutter Spots
What you’ll need: Wire brush, roofing cement, putty knife Minor rust spots may appear on gutters due to outdoor elements. Luckily, they’re fairly simple to repair. Using a wire brush, thoroughly scrape away the rust on gutters. With a putty knife, apply a thin coat of roofing cement.
4. Detached Gutters or Downspouts
What you’ll need: Sheet-metal screws, screwdriver, U-shape brackets Gutters that have pulled away or detached can cause water to run down your home’s exterior toward the foundation, potentially leading to leaks and damage. To fix a detached gutter, drive a pilot hole, and secure the gutter or downspout with U-shape brackets and short sheet-metal screws.
5. Missing Downspouts
What you’ll need: Fine-tooth hacksaw, file, metal downspout section, gutter caulk, U-shape brackets, screws, screwdriver If a portion of your downspout is missing, it’s fairly simple to fix. Start by measuring the section that needs to be replaced. Using a hacksaw, cut a new section of the downspout, being careful to cut square. File the edges and secure using U-shape brackets and screws. Seal the seam with gutter caulk.
6. Damaged Gutter Guards and Strainers
What you’ll need: Wire-cage strainers, scissors, screen guards the width of your gutters If your home’s gutter guards are in disrepair or a portion is missing, follow these steps to replace them. Place a wire-cage strainer ($3, Lowe’s) above the downspout connection. Cut lengths of the gutter guard to fit your gutters. Slip the inner edge of the guard under the first course of shingles and bend the other edge in place under the lip of the gutter.
