Gutters: Maintenance and Repair

The zinc gutter is the collection tray or drainage strip that drains rainwater from the roof to the downspout. Zinc is a versatile and long-lasting construction metal.

• Gutters should be maintained and cleaned at least once a year.
• Depending on the pollution and/or trees near the house, twice a year.
• Also check the connections of the horizontal parts and the connection to the rainwater drain.
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• Solder seams crack
• Too long, expansion piece (or band) missing
• Pollution
• Covered with bitumen or EPDM
• Coating etc. lubricated
• Gutter brackets (steel) rust
• Moisture corrosion
• Slope, sedation, water remains

Is the gutter material old or deteriorating? Is there moisture corrosion visible on the material? Is there a white deposit? Then the gutter will need to be replaced sooner or later.

Soldered seams often come loose or have already been repaired unprofessionally, posing a risk of water ingress and leakage. Using the right materials and pretreatment, such defects can be repaired by a qualified professional. However, also try to determine the cause of these loose soldered seams. The zinc gutter may be too long, preventing it from adjusting to changes in length due to heat and cold (expansion and contraction).

• Don't start covering seams with tape or the like; these are just 'band-aids' and will hardly have any function after less than a year.
• Soldering gutters is a specialized job; not every plumber has this expertise yet.

If a white deposit is visible on the zinc of the gutters, this is a form of corrosion (caused by condensation or leakage). This is a slow process of zinc dissolution and an indicator that the material is subject to wear and tear and has been affected by the ravages of time. Depending on the conditions, the zinc has a total lifespan of 30 to 50 years.

The total length of the gutter's zinc may be too long , causing the solder joints to crack. When installing the gutter, the zinc's expansion and contraction should have been taken into account. There are two ways to create a gap in the gutter: first, by using an "expansion piece with rubber," and second, by using two partitions and a sliding partition. Consult a qualified plumber for advice and installation.

• Usually, a break in the gutter must be made every 6 metres in length, see the example below.

The gutter slope may be incorrect , so check if there's too much water remaining in the gutter. This can often be easily corrected by placing spacers on the gutter blocks under the gutter. However, repairing such a slope problem is usually not easy, and the gutter must be dismantled.

• Another option might be to install an additional drain at the deepest point.
• Have an expert and experienced plumber carry out this repair work and advise you on it.

If the gutter brackets rust, it can damage the gutter material. It could even cause the gutter to leak. We recommend removing the rust from the gutter brackets and applying a rust-resistant paint system. It would be helpful if a thin piece of felt could be clamped under the gutter and on the bracket to break the contact between the different materials.

If the gutter is (partially) covered on the inside with bitumen or a similar material, keep in mind that the gutter will need to be replaced within a maximum of five years, despite the covering. The applied material is bonded to the gutter's material (zinc) and therefore not a replacement! This covering only provides a temporary delay before the entire gutter needs replacing. Most bonding methods don't last long! There's still too little experience with EPDM covering in a zinc gutter. An older zinc gutter covered with EPDM could therefore function perfectly well.

A polyester gutter is the collection tray or drainage strip that drains rainwater from the roof to the downspout. This material is versatile and long-lasting.

• Defects in these gutters are not easily repaired.

A house may be (partially) equipped with a wooden gutter . While not a very common material, it is used regionally or in characteristic houses. If properly maintained, such gutters can function perfectly.

• Is there wood rot present in the wooden gutter? Treatment or maintenance can increase the extent of the defects, and the full extent of the rot will only become visible if maintenance is carried out. Once wood rot has developed in such a gutter, repair will be difficult and replacement should be considered.

• Have you noticed any defects in the EPDM gutter? These can be repaired by a professional. Most hardware stores also sell repair kits with clear instructions on how to carry out repairs yourself. For major defects, it's best to replace (part of) the EPDM gutter lining.

• If the concrete of the gutter structure is porous, we recommend lining the gutter with an EPDM coating on the inside. This prevents moisture from penetrating the concrete and further protects the structure from water and weather. EPDM has a long lifespan; consult an expert.
• The concrete of the gutter structure may have previously been coated on the inside. This may not provide the desired functionality and is so porous that we recommend covering the gutter with an EPDM lining. This prevents moisture from penetrating the concrete and further protects the structure from water and weather influences. EPDM has a long lifespan; consult an expert.
• Note: It often happens that the reinforcement in the concrete in such gutters is already corroded, and concrete damage is already present to a greater or lesser extent. This can also be difficult to detect if the gutter is coated on the outside. A few hairline cracks in the concrete should already be a cause for concern .

• Solder joints may be loose or have already been repaired unprofessionally, posing a risk of water ingress and leakage. Using the right materials and pretreatment, such defects can be repaired by a qualified professional.
  • Don't start covering seams with tape or the like; these are just 'band-aids' and will hardly have any function after less than a year.
  • Soldering gutters is a specialized job; not every plumber still has this expertise.
• If the gutter is (partially) covered with bitumen, keep in mind that the zinc, despite the bitumen, will need to be replaced within the next 5 years. The applied bitumen is not a replacement for the zinc and only provides a temporary delay in replacing it.
• Contamination in the valley gutter can have serious consequences. The contamination can become so severe that the valley gutter can no longer function properly. This poses a risk of flooding during heavy rainfall.
  • Clean gutters at least annually!
  • Proper maintenance and cleaning of the gutters ensures a longer lifespan of the materials.