Leaking or overflowing gutters usually need more than a quick patch.
Where the water shows is a clue to the fault. Drips at a joint point to failed sealant or rivets, water running down the wall behind the gutter suggests a run that has lost its fall or lost its fascia fixing, and spill over the front edge in heavy rain suggests a blocked outlet or too little capacity.
Repair the gutter where it makes sense. Replace it when it doesn’t.
Replacement is also the point at which the fall, the brackets and the fixings can be reset so the gutter drains properly and is suited to the fascia and the roof it serves. A repair keeps the existing layout, so it only suits a run that already works as a drainage system.
Find the cause before deciding on the repair.
Inspect
Trace each leak or overflow point along the run, and check brackets, fascia fixings, joints and outlets.
Decide
Set the extent of the sound metal against the extent of the damage, and choose a joint repair, a section or the full run.
Complete
Complete the agreed scope, including downpipe connections and outlet positions where they form part of the work.
Problems with a box gutter?
Box gutters can involve different drainage details, outlets, sumps and overflow arrangements. If the problem involves a box gutter, use the dedicated service page for the relevant repair, replacement and rectification scope.
Box Gutter Repairs & ReplacementSee gutter and fascia work in completed projects.
A Lysterfield home had its roof-edge gutter and fascia replaced, and a Glen Iris restoration combined eaves and fascia repairs with a downpipe replacement.
Gutter repairs and replacement — common questions
How are leaking gutter joints repaired?+
Joints are cleaned back to bare metal, re-riveted if loose and re-sealed with a sealant compatible with the gutter material. This works while the metal is sound. If the joint area is corroded or the gutter keeps flexing, a section or the whole run is better replaced.
Why does a gutter sag or pull away from the fascia?+
Usual causes are loose or too-widely spaced brackets, rotted fascia that no longer holds fixings, and the weight of leaves and standing water. A sagging gutter holds water, which accelerates corrosion, so the fascia and brackets are checked with the gutter.
Are gutter guards a good idea in bushfire-prone areas?+
They can reduce leaf build-up but do not remove the need for cleaning. In bushfire-prone areas, any gutter guards installed must be non-combustible, such as metal mesh. Combustible guards such as plastic or foam do not meet that requirement.
Does the replacement gutter profile matter?+
Yes. Building requirements set minimum gutter sizes, and a gutter must carry the water from the roof area it serves. Swapping to a smaller profile can cut capacity and cause overflow, so the size is matched to the roof and downpipes.
Why are downpipes checked along with the gutter?+
Water leaves the gutter through the outlet and downpipe, so a blocked or undersized downpipe causes overflow that looks like a gutter fault. There is a limit to how much gutter one downpipe can serve, so the number and position of outlets matter.