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Can A Leaky Gutter Be Repaired? Yes, a leaky gutter can definitely be repaired, and it’s a task worth addressing quickly to prevent further damage to your home.
In Australia, where weather conditions can vary from heavy rain to intense sun, maintaining gutters is essential.
How to Fix Leaking Gutters in Australia
Clear the Area: Remove any debris or leaves from the leaking spot.
Clean the Surface: Thoroughly clean the area and let it dry to ensure the sealant adheres properly.
Cover the Gaps: Apply waterproof seam tape over the leak, making sure it lays flat and overlaps the gap.
Protect Painted Surfaces: Use painter’s tape to protect nearby painted areas and the gutter’s edge.
Apply Sealant: Generously brush on a waterproof sealant, ensuring you cover the edges of the seam tape.
Let it Dry: Allow the sealant to dry for 4-6 hours until it’s tacky.
Apply a Second Coat: Add another layer of sealant, extending slightly beyond the first coat’s edges.
Remove the Tape: While the sealant is still wet, carefully remove the painter’s tape.
Complete Drying: Let the sealant cure fully, which may take a few days depending on the repair size.
Test the Repair: After drying, pour water over the area to ensure the leak is sealed.
Fixing it by yourself should be the last resort, especially if you are not qualified, you should seek professional help. Contact us and we’ll send a qualified expert your way.
storm water drainage
How Much Does Leaky Repair Cost?
Leaky gutter repairs don’t cost you an arm and a leg. It would typically cost between $105 and $287 in Canberra. However, note that cost can increase depending on the scope of work required to completely address a gutter problem from the root cause.
Material of Gutter: The type and material a gutter is made of can increase the cost of repair. Sometimes you might pay about $70 to repair vinyl gutters but more than $1000 to repair copper gutters.
The Severity of Damage: The more the damage to your gutter, the higher you have to pay a professional per hour for repairs.
Ease of Access: If the gutters needing repair are in a part of the roof that’s difficult to reach, your cost might significantly increase. The contractor will factor his safety into how much he charges per hour for the job.
Downspouts Inclusion: If the leaks extend to downspouts, costs will definitely increase. After repairing gutters, most professionals will run a test to make sure the gutter can now manage water properly. This test may reveal other problems in downspouts.
When it comes to gutters, prevention is always the best option. To do this however, you have to know why gutters leak in the first place.
Why Do Gutters Leak?
Gutter leaks can be funny to think about. It makes you wonder if small people live in them, making small holes that leak water.
Almost all gutter leaks are inadvertently created by humans (not small humans, though). Others are caused by constant expansion and contraction of materials. Here are the major reasons why gutters leak:
Screw Holes: If you find a perfect water leak happening in your gutters, upon careful scrutiny, you’ll see it’s from a perfect hole. This hole was most likely created by the installer while installing the gutter.
Faulty Seams: Like fault lines along the earth’s crust creating earthquakes, gutter seams can shift, creating leaks. By human error, the seams may have been left unsealed by the installer. Also, downspouts can suffer the same malady if they’ve suffered trauma, or shifts which causes the adhesives to break. To solve this issue, simply apply a rubber gutter sealant to the seam.
Loose End Caps: Gutters with end caps can have leaks too if the caps are loose. What causes loose caps? (Definitely not small people living inside the gutter). If the sealant has dried up, end caps will become loose and leak water. When debris blocks drainage, causing water volume to swell beyond the capacity of the gutter, this can cause end caps to shift.
Solve this issue by installing a new cap with sealant.
You can save on gutter replacements if you have a regular maintenance schedule. Yet, you need to know what to look for.
How To Prevent Leaks in Gutters
Your gutter can actually do their job for a long time without a single leak. It isn’t rocket science. It only requires a simple maintenance habit. Here are tips to prevent your gutters from leaking.
Schedule Frequent Cleaning: Gutters are like highways, but for rain water. Gutters are like a blocked human gut. Leaves and little sticks from trees can block the gutter, especially after a heavy rain. You should clean them at least twice every year. However, checking for debris if there are trees in your property and after a heavy rain, is a brilliant idea.
Installing Downspout Screens: Open downspouts are more likely to get blocked by leaves, or even small animals. Covering the top with a screen can prevent this from happening, maintaining proper water management.
Installing Gutter Guards: Open gutters get a barrage of debris faster than those with screens. It is open season for small animals, moss and lichen. Snapping a screen over your gutter prevents debris and leaves from collecting and causing leaks.
Regular Testing For Leaks: Don’t wait for nature to test your gutter’s mettle. After regular cleaning, hose the gutter with water, then observe for leaks. Experimenting the water flow in your gutters can help you spot leaks or faults in end caps early, preventing damage.
How often should gutters be cleaned?
Expert advice says gutters should be cleaned at least twice a year. For those who reside in areas where rainfall is high, regular cleaning includes immediately after a heavy rainfall. Where there are trees in the vicinity of gutters, cleaning should be done more frequently.
How much does it cost to replace gutters and downpipes in Australia?
Ballpark figure is between $50 and $150. Factors like gutter material, property size, and requirements for installation can make prices vary considerably.
To get an estimate that meets your specific guttering needs, consult a qualified expert.
What shape of gutter is best?
It is generally believed, and for good reason, that Half Round Gutters are the best for all manner of new or old buildings. It is easier to repair and replace than most gutter designs. Its smooth design makes corrosion difficult making it one of the gutters with the longest lifespan. We recently wrote an article on what gutter is best in Australia for heavy rainfall.
What is the strongest gutter?
Stainless steel gutters are considered the strongest by most professionals. They are able to maintain their structure and shine for years. They’re expensive too.
Final Notes
If you don’t already have a schedule for cleaning gutters, it’s time to have one. You don’t want rainwater ending up everywhere except the gutters.
Leaky gutters can cause costly damages to the foundation of your home, leading to other unsavory problems. At HolyMess Repairs, our experts are registered and equipped to deal with any type of gutter leaks. Contact us today for gutter repairs in Melbourne.
