MY SEAMLESS RAINGUTTER IS LEAKING!

If you see a drip from the rain gutter and notice water damage on the adjacent siding, it's important to fix the leaky rain gutter promptly.

So, why do these issues pop up, and what can we do to fix them?

Let's dive into the usual suspects and how to stop the dripping. 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 gutter or how it's set up.

• Drip edge

  
  

• The drip edge is the metal trim that's placed on the roof before the shingles are nailed on, its designed to hold the roof shingle as it projects out over the facia and cause water to drip clear of the facia. You can see it along the edge of the roof where it hangs down along the facia.

• In the picture below we are bending the drip edge before installing the rain gutter.

Before installing the rain gutter, the drip edge should be bent away from the fascia. Next, the rain gutter must be installed with its rear edge positioned behind the drip edge.

If the drip edge is not bent outward and the gutter is installed on top of it, water may not drip off the roof edge into the gutter. Instead, it can wick down the drip edge, leading to water dripping between the back of the gutter and the fascia.

The drip edge repair to stop the leak

First, take down the gutter, carefully bend the drip edge up , and then re-install the gutter with the back edge behind the drip edge.

Sometimes, when you set up a rain gutter just right, it ends up lower than the drip edge because it needs a certain angle to let water flow into the downspout. Lots of houses aren't perfectly level, which means there's going to be more space between the drip edge and the back edge of a well-angled gutter. If water is sneaking behind the gutter, try bending the drip edge out a bit more or sliding some metal flashing under the drip edge and into the gutter.

Another fix is to add more downspouts, so you don't need as much angle on the gutter, and then you can move the gutter up to fit behind the drip edge.

I've checked the drip edge and the gutter is behind it.

Alright, so the next step is to 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 put in the wrong spot, between the roof sheathing and the drip edge. If it's not done right, water can sneak up between the shingle and drip edge, then drip down behind the gutter. It might also slip through where the drip edges overlap. Those overlaps should be at least two inches.

Repairing improperly installed ice and water shield

This fix is a bit more complicated and takes longer. You need to take off 3 or 4 rows of shingles, put down a new layer of ice and water shield membrane over the drip edge, and then put the shingles back on.

The picture below shows a roof shingle that does not properly project 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 sneak back in through the overlapped drip edges. You can sometimes add a line of caulk along the edge of the roofing if it doesn't stick out the necessary 3/8".

Did they install the roof shingles with a starter course and properly offset the joints? If the joints or sides of the shingles aren't offset like the manufacturer suggests, water can sneak through the roof, causing drips behind the gutter or through the soffit. You'll need to replace the shingles if that's the case.

NO DIVERTER FLASHING INSTALLED

• 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. To fix it right, you'll have to take off the rain gutter, some siding, and a few roof shingles. While you're at it, check the wall for any rotted sheathing. If this has been going on for a while, you might have to remove more siding to fix any rotted areas. After that, you can install a flashing that you either buy or make yourself, and then put the roof shingles and siding back in place.

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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