Why do gutters pull away in a storm?
Because the wind and the weight of water and ice loosen the hangers, and the fascia behind them may be soft. A gutter with a few hangers pulled loose can collapse in a single storm.
A gutter is held by hangers fixed into the fascia board. Wind pushes on the gutter and the water in it adds weight, and the hangers can work loose over time. Ice that forms in the gutter adds more load and can pull the whole section down.
The fascia behind the gutter can also be soft. Water that has been running over the edge can rot the board, and a hanger driven into soft wood will not hold. The roofer checks the fascia at each hanger and replaces any soft board before the gutter is re-hung.
Why check the downspouts as well?
Because the downspout carries the water away from the foundation. A blocked, loose or badly discharging downspout sends the water back against the wall.
A downspout that is disconnected or bent sends water down the wall instead of carrying it away. A downspout that discharges at the foot of the wall without an extension puts water at the foundation, where it can soak the soil and find the joints.
The roofer checks each downspout for a secure fit, a clear path and a discharge that leaves the building. Extensions and splash blocks are noted where they would help, since a short run of downspout is often the cause of the wet foundation.
How is the gutter tested after repair?
A hose is run into the high end of the gutter to show the water flows to the downspout without spilling over, and to show that the joints do not leak.
The test is simple. Water is run along the gutter from the high end, and the roofer watches for leaks at the joints, spill over the front edge and any sag that holds water. The downspout outlet is checked to confirm the water leaves the gutter and runs away from the wall.
The test is done after the repair and recorded in the note. A gutter that passes the test is more likely to keep the foundation dry in the next storm.
Where gutter work needs the county licence
When it is part of a roofing or home-improvement job, the business doing it needs the Nassau County home-improvement licence. A caller should ask for that licence before the work starts.
Nassau County licenses home-improvement businesses, and roofing is included. Whether a gutter job counts as home-improvement work under the county licence depends on the job, so the caller should ask which licence applies. The licence can be checked with the county's Office of Consumer Affairs.
A business that is not licensed should not work or advertise the work in the county, according to the county's licensing packet. The caller can ask the phone team which licence applies to a particular job.
What to watch after a repair
The gutter line after the next storm, the foot of the downspouts after heavy rain and the foundation where the water used to pool. Those three places show whether the repair has held.
After the next heavy rain, look along the gutter for spill over the edge, drips at the joints and any new sag. Check that the downspouts are carrying the water away and that the ground at the foot of the wall is not pooling.
Report any new sign to the roofer with the date and place. The note from the repair lists the parts that were done and what to watch, so the check is easy to follow.
- Look for spill over the front edge after heavy rain
- Check the joints for drips
- Confirm the downspouts carry water away from the wall
- Watch the ground at the foot of the wall for pooling
How a gutter run is laid out and why it matters
The gutter slopes gently toward the downspout, and the run is only as good as its slope. A level or reversed section holds water, and the water then spills over the front edge.
A gutter is set with a fall of a small amount along its length, so that water runs toward the downspout outlet. When a section is pulled down or the hangers have shifted, the fall is lost. The water then stands in the low part of the run and spills over the front edge in the next heavy rain.
The roofer checks the fall with a level along the run and corrects it at the hangers. The test with water shows the fall, and the note records any section that needed to be reset.
