Snow and ice leave clear marks on the gutter. You can repair a lot of damage yourself without much effort.
The gutter is constantly exposed to a wide variety of weather conditions. It doesn't matter whether the gutters are made of metal or plastic - they are always badly affected by frost in winter. If this causes damage, it must be repaired as quickly as possible. Because rainwater drips out through the leaks. Over time, this will cause damage to the facade of your house.
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But you don't have to be afraid of high repair costs, because it is not absolutely necessary to have the work done by a craftsman. You can easily carry out minor repairs yourself. Thats how you save alot money. The specialist trade also offers a whole range of tools to seal cracks and holes in the gutter. You will also need a tool box or trolley. It is ideal when the tool trolley is full. This gives you the basic equipment you need for all other repairs around the house and garden. Only if metal gutters are to be permanently repaired by soldering should you have this done by a professional, as there is a high risk of fire.
How to repair your gutter yourself
➤ Option 1 - seal minor damage with silicone:
If there is only minor damage to the gutter, you can use silicone for the repair work. You absolutely need a silicone that is free of solvents. You also need an appropriate syringe to be able to press the silicone out of the cartridge. You can get all this for a few euros in any hardware store.
➥ How to do it:
Before you can apply the silicone, you must clean the damaged areas and then allow them to dry completely so that the silicone can adhere optimally. Then use the syringe to apply the silicone to the cracks and holes and smooth it out with your finger. It is better to wet it with soapy water beforehand,so it doesn't stick to the silicone.
Tip: It is important that you smooth the batter completely. In this way you avoid unnecessary obstacles where the water can accumulate.
➤ Option 2 - repair the gutter with special sealants:
In the shops you can buy not only silicone for repairing gutters made of plastic, aluminium, zinc and copper, but also various sealants with a viscous consistency. These products are suitable, for example, for repairing holes with a diameter of up to 10 mm. When using it, however, it is important that you only carry out the work in persistently dry weather.
➥ How to do it:
Even before treating with a sealing compound (for example the sealing compound from Coltogum) you must clean the relevant areas of the rain gutter and then allow them to dry thoroughly. Then apply the mass with a spatula or brush according to the manufacturer's instructions. Within a few hours, the sealant is then completely hardened.
➤ Option 3 - repair larger cracks with sealing tape:
Sometimes it's not just minor damage that can be repaired with silicone or caulk. In this case, it is best to use special sealing tapes that you can get in hardware stores or, for example, here at Amazon. The tapes are made of aluminum and are additionally coated with bitumen. They have a special adhesive on one side for easy attachment.
➥ How to do it:
You can use such sealing tape for work on both metal and plastic gutters. To do this, clean the outside of the gutter where it is damaged. This is the only way for the adhesive to adhere optimally. You can then simply attach the tape to the gutter. It is then reliably sealed immediately.