Help Request - Gutter Repair

Submitted by GeneralInspector8962 t3_10p4y0y in DIY

Hey all, recently bought a home and discovered the gutters are not level.

When the previous owner built the mudroom, they did not angle the gutters correctly, and water just pools to to the corner whenever there is heavy rain/melting snow.

Can someone please advise if a downspout should be installed in the corner to resolve this?

There is an existing downspout on the corner of the garage (you can see in linked image).

I can tell the side overhanging the entrance is different/newer materials used than the original gutter drain on the other side.

Any help/advice is appreciated!

https://preview.redd.it/9j75cula47fa1.jpg?width=1086&format=pjpg&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=ad2db6aafdd7a0af96e7145635f869508589e154

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Guygan t1_j6ico64 wrote

Get up on a ladder.

Clean the gutters.

Get a long spirit level and check to see if both parts are sloped. They appear to be from your pictures.

If they are properly sloped, you probably have a leak in the corner piece. Clean up the joints on the inside and apply something like FlexSeal to fix the leak. OR the downspout could be clogged. Un-clog it, then test everything with a garden hose.

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GeneralInspector8962 OP t1_j6ii8y3 wrote

Thank you for the step-by-step breakdown. I have gone up and routinely clean the gutters. I can confirm that each gutter seems to slope properly, but the area near the corner from both sides still pools.

Sounds like its not entirely necessary for a downspout to be there in the corner, but I do need to check for leaks.

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Guygan t1_j6j0q8i wrote

I'll add that it will be easier and simpler just to re-attach the gutters with proper slope (if that's the issue) than to install a new downspout.

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Bluecar93 t1_j6jpd7u wrote

You use Gutter seal. you can buy it at home depot.

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Awordofinterest t1_j6ixx1d wrote

Easy mode fix for you if it is pooling in that corner.

You can buy a "gutter spigot" (that only works on flat bottomed gutter, like your ogee or square styles.) - Or that's what i've always called them, You simply hole saw a 54mm hole in the flat of your gutter, pop the thing through, screw it down and attach a down pipe.

Link to english site selling this. - https://www.trulypvc.com/roofing/rainwater/unions-outlets/hunter-uni-fit-r400-gutter-outlet

I'm sure you can get them in every country. not sure if it will be called the same thing.

As someone else said, clean out the gutters and reseal the joins first and foremost, but this won't solve the pooling issue.

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brock_lee t1_j6ibfm2 wrote

From the images, it looks like the gutters are sloped properly, from "right to left" and around the corner. I believe you, but I don't see why it would pool there. I can understand why it would leak in the corner if the piece is not sealed properly, tho.

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daan944 t1_j6ifyo4 wrote

That's what I thought too, but check the lines of the boards on the side. It appears the edge visible below the gutter is askew but the gutter itself isn't (or maybe is, hard to tell).

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brock_lee t1_j6igehw wrote

Well, if the whole roof is off, I can see that. But along both lengths, you can see both differences in the fascia and shingles that you can see, which is why it appears to slope.

If it doesn't slope, OP, you can just remove and redo it.

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FirstForFun44 t1_j6je28g wrote

No matter what if water is pooling then it's a low point. Remembers that it needs to slope downward on two planes; from back to front and from right to left (towards whichever side the gutter is on). Other people in the thread were correct about the corner joints leaking. I would seal those up again to be sure. To change the slope you should be able to unscrew it from the fascia and screw it back in. If it uses long aluminum nails then you'll have to reposition those.

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GeneralInspector8962 OP t1_j6ju30a wrote

Thank you for the detail. These are little hex screws or whatever, not the long gutter nails, fortunately.

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New_Public_2828 t1_j6ib7su wrote

Are gutters installed on slopes? I thought they were level and just emptied on certain corners.

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dcivili t1_j6jrcs7 wrote

They have to be sloped or the water won't drain properly. Standing water is bad

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New_Public_2828 t1_j6ju4zd wrote

If they are level and there's a hole (drain) in one side.... Would it not drain? If it's sloped you would require more drains. As an example, if the corner that op is expressing concern about is sloped where that corner being the highest point, you would need a drain somewhere on the opposite side of that slope. If it's all level then water would drain in just one drain eliminating the need to drain more things away from the house. The only problem with this is if you have a very large roof and everything is coming out that one drain it could overflow. Still at that point everything should be level without slopes with additional drains.

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dcivili t1_j6jvgoc wrote

All roofs are large by surface area and to make draining quicker and efficient they are usually sloped right to left. I think it's 1 inch drop for every ten feet. Also, houses are never level, there is always settling. Imaging pouring a pitcher of water on a flat table from the middle, it will eventually either drain off the edges or dry, but not quickly or efficiently. If the table is sloped it drains off quickly

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New_Public_2828 t1_j6jvlru wrote

Cool. Thank you for clarifying. I always thought they were level

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imoutohere t1_j6mzts8 wrote

Each installation is contingent on the existing conditions. Some are level some are pitched. Think about if you had a 50’ run you. One side would be 5” lower than the other, and it would look like crap. In that case. I hang the gutter higher in the middle and pitch it slightly to each side toward the leaders.

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New_Public_2828 t1_j6n1k9y wrote

I guess if it's sloped even a little it's good enough for the most part?

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imoutohere t1_j6n34jp wrote

Like I said it’s specific. But there will as many opinions as there are users. Gutter must be functional and aesthetic.

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