Home › Common Problems › Leaking Gutter Joints
Leaking Gutter Joints
in Fayetteville, AR
Sectional gutters are joined together at overlapping seams sealed with a bead of gutter caulk. In Fayetteville, summer temperatures push past 90 degrees and winters regularly drop below freezing, and that back-and-forth expansion and contraction cracks the old sealant open over time. Once the joint opens up, water drips straight down onto the fascia and siding all winter long.
Quick Answer
Leaking gutter joints happen when the sealant between two gutter sections dries out and cracks. In Fayetteville, the temperature swings between summer heat above 90 degrees and winter nights below freezing put constant stress on that sealant until it fails. You fix it by cleaning the joint, letting it dry fully, and applying new gutter sealant inside the seam. Left alone, the dripping water will rot the fascia and soften the soil against your foundation.
Telltale Signs
Warning Signs to Watch For
- Water drips from a specific point on the gutter during rain
- A green algae or dark stain streak on the siding starting at a joint
- Paint bubbling or peeling on the fascia board below a gutter seam
- Rust stain forming at an overlap seam on a steel gutter
- You can see daylight through a gutter joint when looking up inside
Root Causes
What Causes Leaking Gutter Joints?
Failed Sealant at Overlap Seam
Gutter sealant is flexible when new but hardens and cracks after years of Fayetteville heat and cold cycles. Once it cracks, every rain pushes water through the gap and drops it straight down onto whatever is below.
The Fix
Joint Resealing
The old dried sealant gets scraped out, the metal surfaces get cleaned and dried, and new gutter sealant goes in on the inside of the joint. The gutter needs to be completely dry before the new sealant is applied or it will not stick.
Gutter Sections Shifting Apart
If the hangers holding two adjacent gutter sections are spaced too far apart or have loosened, those sections can shift relative to each other over time. Even a small gap at the joint lets water pour through instead of continuing down the channel.
The Fix
Hanger Tightening and Joint Realignment
Loose hangers get tightened or replaced, the sections get realigned so they overlap correctly, and then the joint gets resealed. Fixing the movement first matters, because new sealant in a joint that keeps shifting will crack again fast.
Self-Diagnosis
Which Cause Applies to You?
Check the signs you're observing to narrow down the likely root cause before your inspection.
| What You're Seeing | Failed Sealant at Overlap Seam | Gutter Sections Shifting Apart |
|---|---|---|
| Water drips from one fixed point on the gutter with every rain | ||
| The gutter sections have visibly separated at the overlap | ||
| Rust or stain line runs directly down from a seam location | ||
| Dripping only happens during hard rain, not light rain | ||
| Old dried sealant is cracked and visible inside the gutter at the joint |
Free Inspection
Get a Diagnosis in Fayetteville
An on-site inspection is the only way to confirm which cause applies to your property. Free, no obligation.
(479) 480-5694Free on-site inspection
Written estimate before work starts
Serving Fayetteville & surrounding areas
Other Problems
Services That Fix This
Also Helpful