Sealing a small leak in a gutter

_Chris_ · Post by **_Chris_** » Thu Mar 26, 2020 9:38 am

When working with a gutter sealant applied with a gun, have any of you found a way to smooth it out over the leak, without making a mess of it? Seems difficult to get a smooth finish?

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Thu Mar 26, 2020 10:09 am

These any use?

_Chris_ · Post by **_Chris_** » Thu Mar 26, 2020 10:13 am

someone-else wrote: ↑Thu Mar 26, 2020 10:09 am These any use?

Thank you, they look good - do you think they would be good with that sealing mastic though? It just seems so difficult to work with.

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Thu Mar 26, 2020 10:15 am

maybe put the mastic (still in its tube) in the sunshine for a while to warm it up to make it more flexible?

_Chris_ · Post by **_Chris_** » Thu Mar 26, 2020 11:02 am

Yeah, I did try that, but it still wasn't smoothing out properly.

ayjay · Post by **ayjay** » Thu Mar 26, 2020 11:15 am

What type of gutter, and where are you putting the sealant?

With plastic gutter, if I've had a small leak, it's usually the rubber that has either moved or deteriorated and so the sealant goes there, (take the joint apart first) you shouldn't really be seeing much surplus.

Don't forget that plastic expand and contracts quite a bit between winter and summer temperatures, if there are many leaking joints you'd be better off replacing the joints.

Not much different with metal gutter, take the joint apart and put sealant in the joint, clean away any surplus that oozes out.

fin · Post by **fin** » Thu Mar 26, 2020 11:21 am

yea weird thing with guttering though is a lot of the time different makes arent compatible. either too big or too small.

if its possible for the cost of replacement i would renew it. if cost is a problem or access then maybe sealing is the best option.

if your sealing a plastic gutter joint the actual parts that hold the joint together are complete and unbroken arent they?

Chippo1 · Post by **Chippo1** » Thu Mar 26, 2020 11:25 am

When I fitted my new gutters I smear the seals wit silicone grease to keep them supple and lubricated

_Chris_ · Post by **_Chris_** » Thu Mar 26, 2020 11:30 am

I've noticed the problem on many previous guttering jobs, just very difficult to get a smooth finish on what is basically, glue! This is the latest one here. I didn't apply that sealant on the outside that you see, but there is a leak somewhere as I tested it with water, so was looking to layer it on the inside over all the joins.

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_Chris_ · Post by **_Chris_** » Thu Mar 26, 2020 11:31 am

Chippo1 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 26, 2020 11:25 am When I fitted my new gutters I smear the seals wit silicone grease to keep them supple and lubricated

Good shout, I did have some trouble with this last week - any particular silicone grease to recommend?