Why IS MY SEAMLESS RAINGUTTER LEAKING!

Occasionally, we receive a call from a homeowner saying, "Why is my seamless raingutter leaking!"

So, why do these issues pop up, and what can we do to fix a leaking raingutter?

Let's dive into the usual suspects and how to stop the leaking. Sure, it could be something obvious like a hole in the gutter, a leaky seam, or leaves clogging things up, but finding and fixing the real cause often goes beyond just the raingutter or how it's been installed.

Can I fix my leaking rain gutter myself?

Absolutely! A skilled homeowner can take care of these repairs, or you can give us a call, and we’ll handle them for you.

You’ll need the following tools:

• Sturdy ladder that's tall enough to safely reach the leaking raingutter.

• Screw gun and 1/4" driver

• Small flat bar to help bend steel drip edge

Drip edge problems can cause a leak behind your raingutter

• The drip edge is the metal trim installed on the roof edge before the shingles are nailed down. It’s designed to support the roof shingles as they extend over the fascia and to direct water, so it drips clear of it. You can spot it along the roof’s edge, where it hangs down over the fascia.

• In the picture below, we’re bending the drip edge in preparation for installing the rain gutter. Which is essential in preventing a drip from forming behind your raingutter.

Properly preparing the drip edge to prevent your seamless raingutter leaking

If the drip edge isn’t bent out and the raingutter is placed over it, water might not fall into the gutter. Instead, it can run down the drip edge and leak between the back of the raingutter and the fascia.

Repairing the drip edge to stop the leak.

• First, remove the leaking raingutter.

• Carefully bend the drip edge away from the facia

• Reinstall the gutter with its back edge tucked behind the drip edge.

Sometimes, when a gutter is angled just right for proper water flow into the downspout, it can sit lower than the drip edge. Since many houses aren’t perfectly level, this can leave a gap between the drip edge and the gutter’s back edge.

If water is still leaking behind the raingutter, try these next.

• Bend the drip edge out a bit more

• Slide a metal flashing under the drip edge and into the gutter.

• Another option is to add more downspouts, which reduces the needed slope, allowing you to raise the gutter to fit behind the drip edge.

A diagram of the roofs edge to help troubleshoot a leaking seamless raingutter

You checked the drip edge, and the raingutter is behind it.

Alright, your raingutter is still leaking. take these next steps.

• Gently lift the edge of the roof shingle to check if the ice and water shield membrane is correctly placed over the top of the drip edge.

• We often find it installed by the roofer in the wrong order, between the roof sheathing and the drip edge. The membrane should be above the drip edge. If it's not done right, water can migrate between the shingle and drip edge, then drip down behind the gutter.

• Check the overlap of the drip edges. Those overlaps should be at least two inches. if less, water can find its way between the ends.

Repairing improperly installed ice and water shield

This fix is a bit more complicated and takes longer.

• You will need to remove off 3 or 4 rows of roof shingles,

• Install a new layer of ice and water shield membrane on top of the drip edge.

• Reinstall the shingles. Be sure to extend the new shingles 3/8" beyond the drip edge.

The picture below shows a roof shingle that does not properly project over the drip edge.

Ther roofer hasn't properly extended the shingles over the drip edge

Roof shingles not overlapping the drip edge

Are the roof shingles sticking out over the drip edge by 3/8"?

• If they aren't, water might be migrating up and through the overlapped drip edges.

• Add a line of roofing caulk along the edge of the roofing to keep the water out.

Did your roofer install the roof shingles with a starter course and properly offset the joints? If the joints or sides of the shingles aren't offset as the manufacturer suggests, water can leak between the shingles, causing leaks behind the raingutter or through the soffit.

• You'll need to replace the shingles if that's the case. And reinstall them properly

NO DIVERTER FLASHING INSTALLED CAUSE LEAKS

• Diverter flashing or Kick-out flashing should be installed where a side wall intersects or abuts a roof as commonly seen with a two-story house with a one story attached garage.

You'll need to install a diverter flashing here, but it's often skipped or done poorly.

How do install a diverter to stop a leak?

• Remove the rain gutter.

• Remove some siding to allow installation of the new diverter above the facia area.

• Remove roof shingles in the area.

• Inspect the wall sheathing for any water damage. If your leak has been going on for a while, you might have to remove more siding to fix any rotted areas.

• Install the diverter flashing that you either buy or make yourself.

• Reinstall the roof shingles, siding & raingutter.

• If you're looking for a quick fix, you can try sliding a piece of metal bent at 90 degrees under the roof shingle.

A PROPERLY FLASHED WALL

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