DIY Gutter Repair Tips

If you follow our blog, you know that we are huge advocates for proper maintenance and preventative measures when it comes to protecting your biggest investment - your home and its roof. Your gutter system is a huge part of a properly functioning roof, and it should be inspected and maintained much like your roofing system. Gutter problems can lead to poor drainage, costly interior leaks and foundation breakdown.

DIY Gutter Repair Tips

Let’s take a look at a couple of most common problems you may find as you’re inspecting and maintaining your gutters. 

#1. The Problem: Sagging Gutters. Over time, the fasteners and brackets holding your gutters against the roof perimeter may begin to pull away—or even break off—so gutters begin to sag. In addition to being an eyesore, this sagging allows debris and sludge to build up in the center of lengthy gutter sections. Sagging gutters don’t drain as well, and sludge causes gutter deterioration over time.

The Repair: Reseating or Replacing Hangers. If your gutters are held in place by spike-and-ferrule hangers, try caulking around the spike and allowing caulking to cure. Then, drive the long spike deeper into the roof’s edge. If the spike does not “grab” solid wood when you drive it, change out the spike for a larger nail or a longer wood screw. For clip-style gutter hangers, you must pull up the edge of the roof and reattach hangers to the underlay, or “sheathing.” Be gentle with the roofing material, or you may crack shingles and cause additional roof damage.

#2. The Problem: Popped Rivets. If your home is protected by aluminum gutters, they’re probably attached to one another by rivets or small screws and further secured with roofing sealant or silicone caulking. As gutters shift and warp due to water weight, wind and age, rivets and screws may pop loose. Caulking also dries out over time, losing its ability to support gutter joints.

The Solution: Reinstalling Rivets. After climbing safely up to the roof’s edge, grasp the two loose gutter sections and place them together. Using a lightweight electric drill, make a small hole through each side of the gutter or downspout. Set pop rivets in each drilled hole, and use a pop rivet tool (available at most hardware stores) to secure the rivet into place. Apply a thin layer of roofing cement or exterior silicone caulking around the edge of the repaired gutter, and allow it to cure for 24 hours before testing the integrity of the connection. You may need to reapply a second layer of roof caulking to ensure a tight seal.

If you ever feel unsure or unsafe about performing any of these DIY fixes for your damaged gutters, don't hesitate to contact Trudel and Sons Roofing at (905)642-3515 and we'll be more than happy to send a pro your way to fix the problem!

5 Tips to Stay on Schedule During a Roofing Project

Installing a roof on a building is a big job with many various and sometimes changing components. Effective coordination and communication between the crew needs to happen, but unfortunately schedules can get derailed in the process. 

Here are some ways you can be better prepared for the unexpected and ensure your company’s project runs on time:

1. Plan around the weather. Use a satellite weather monitoring system to get the forecast in real-time. This will eliminate scheduling conflicts and help to avoid costly delays.
   
2. Make sure your materials are on site. Some products are easily purchased, but others may need to be specially ordered in advance. If the latter is the case, you will need extra time to ensure everything has been delivered in time to begin your project.
   
3. Designate a foreman/manager/site supervisor. This person will direct and supervise the roofing process, plan the work to be done for the days ahead, make sure the installation is done to standard, and secure materials, equipment, manpower, and subcontractors (if needed) to keep the project moving smoothly. Preferably, this person will not be installing, but rather spends his/her time supervising and coordinating.
   
4. Use scheduling software. Every project should have a plan and schedule set in place before ground breaking day. It should be allotted into manageable phases with completion targets clearly determined. The schedule should be updated daily and distributed to all parties involved in the project. Making your trades and employees aware of the timelines will make meeting deadlines a breeze.
   
5. Get a dedicated delivery vehicle. To prevent unforeseen shortages, breakdowns, or to replace broken tools, have a vehicle and dedicated "runner" available to handle these problems as they arise. You want the foreman and contractors to be on the roof working and coordinating, not dealing with equipment or material errors.

All of these steps will help ensure that your roof is completed on schedule. And remember: preventing problems takes planning!