Why Is Water Leaking between My House’s Gutter and Fascia?
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Gutters redirect water away from your house. However, when gutters fail and water starts leaking between your gutter system and fascia, you could experience anything ranging from a mild inconvenience to extensive house damage.
Take swift action if you suspect leaking water between your gutter installation system and fascia to prevent structural damage to your home and foundation. Our guide will outline the reasons behind the leakage between the gutter system and fascia, the potential consequences if left untreated, preventive measures, and when to call a professional.
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What Are Gutters and Fascia?
Gutters and fascia are important elements that keep your home safe, dry, and protected from the elements. Rain gutters might not be glamorous, but they’re essential to your home’s outdoor structure. Gutters capture rain and debris during inclement weather, redirecting it away from your roof and overall structure. They also prevent water damage and soil erosion around your home. Without a strong gutter system, heavy rain can collect on your roof and shingles, washing the soil away around your home and causing problems with your home’s foundation and siding.
Fascia is located beneath the roofline of your home. A fascia board supports the gutter system, protecting your home from external elements, holding your lower shingles in place, and preventing water from leaking into the rafters. Fascia also serves an aesthetic purpose, helping create a smooth transition line between the exterior walls of your home and the roofline.
Causes of Water Leakage
Water dripping between gutters and fascia isn’t normal, but it can happen in certain scenarios. The most common reason for water leakage is blocked or clogged gutters. Gutters can clog with leaves, debris, sticks, and other matter without regular maintenance. When gutters clog, water can’t exit through the downspouts and will flow up and over the edges of the gutters, either toward the exterior of your home or down the fascia.
Incorrect gutter installation can also cause leaks. It doesn’t take much to incorrectly install gutters, and one wrong move can lead to loose gutters or a leaky gutter. To safeguard against incorrect installation, always check your work (if you’ve installed the gutters on your own), and don’t cut corners during the project.
Finally, clogged downspouts can lead to standing water or water running down over the fascia. Even if your gutters look clear, downspouts can clog with water and debris. Unplug these clogs as soon as possible to avoid extensive water damage or further problems with your overall gutter system.
Consequences of Water Leakage
It’s important to act quickly if you suspect or notice water leakage with your rain gutters. Water leaking between the gutters and fascia can cause structural issues with your home, including foundation problems and deterioration in the walls, and can be costly to fix.
Water leakage can also cause mold and mildew, especially if standing water festers. Mold can lead to health concerns, including irritation of the eyes, ears, nose, and throat. It can also irritate allergies and cause symptoms such as a runny nose and congestion. Mold is expensive to remove and, in most cases, requires a complete replacement of the affected materials.
Additionally, when water flows freely around the outside of your home, it can ruin your landscaping, uprooting your flowers and destroying any manicured areas. Inside your home, it can damage the walls, ceiling, and floors, requiring a complete or partial replacement of major housing elements.
Preventive Measures
To prevent water leakage between gutters and fascia, practice regular gutter maintenance, including cleaning your gutters and unclogging them throughout the year. Remove all debris, sticks, and leaves, and ensure there are no breaks or cracks in the gutter system itself. If you don’t feel confident checking the gutters and fascia yourself, hire a professional to come out every few months, especially after heavy rain. A professional contractor can check all components of the system, including the back of the gutter, the drip edge, and the hangers, to see if anything needs replacement.
If you’re planning on installing new gutters, consider hiring a skilled roofing company or contractor rather than attempting to do it yourself. Improper installation is one of the most common causes behind gutter leakage, and having a professional perform the installation makes it less likely that you’ll deal with issues in the future.
When issues arise or if you notice anything wrong with your gutter system, call a repair expert immediately. Prompt action could be the difference between a gutter system that resumes working as intended and a home plagued by water damage and structural concerns.
Fixing Water Leakage
Fixing water leakage between gutters and fascia yourself with the right tools and a few spare hours is possible. Here are some steps for addressing the issue on your own:
- Gather the necessary supplies, such as safety gloves, caulk, and sealant.
- Perform the repair on a dry day when you can safely secure a ladder to the ground. If possible, have a spotter or assistant on the ground to assist you with tools and help secure the ladder.
- Locate the source of the leakage.
- In most cases, you can fix a leak by reinforcing the brackets attached to the gutter. In other situations, you might need to replace the fascia board. You generally don’t have to remove the entire gutter system to fix the leakage problem. If this does become necessary, contact a professional.
After completing the repairs, apply any necessary sealant and inspect your work. Even if everything looks great upon completion, check back after it rains and evaluate the spot where water was previously leaking to be sure your repairs worked.
When to Call a Professional
While do-it-yourself (DIY) fixes usually work for gutter leakage issues, some occasions call for professional services. If you don’t feel confident working on your gutters or have never attempted DIY fixes, consider calling a roofer. A professional can evaluate the water leakage issue, diagnose it quickly, and fix it. When you hire a professional, you’ll save time and the hassle of fixing it yourself.
Hiring a professional roofer will likely be more expensive than trying to fix the water leakage problem on your own. However, the overall cost will depend on the specific company or contractor.
Finding the right roofer can take some time. If possible, ask your family and friends for roofer recommendations. Online reviews are also an excellent resource for finding qualified home repair specialists. After reading a few third-party reviews and narrowing down your selection, consider performing a phone screen with several companies until you find one that seems to be a good fit. Look for a company or contractor who is willing to explain project specifics to you and who offers you a quote for the services.
Our Recommendation
Gutters and fascia prevent water damage to your home as they safeguard your landscaping and the soil around your foundation. However, it doesn’t take long for issues to start once water leakage occurs. Preventive measures, such as routine gutter maintenance, cleaning gutters regularly, and addressing any breaks or leaks, can help prevent gutter leaks.
If a problem does occur, you can fix it on your own by having the right tools on hand and identifying the source of the leak. However, there are some occasions when hiring a professional is the best course of action, such as a whole-system replacement. It might be more expensive upfront to hire a professional, but you can ensure that a trusted contractor has the tools and expertise to repair or replace your gutter system and stop any additional leaks from occurring.
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Water Leaking between Gutters and Fascia FAQ
What are the common causes of water leakage between gutters and fascia?
Common causes of water leakage between gutters and fascia include improper gutter installation, clogged or blocked gutters, and clogged downspouts. If you suspect any of these issues with your gutters, contact a roofer or home improvement company immediately.
How can I prevent water leakage between my gutters and fascia?
To prevent water leakage between your gutters and fascia, practice routine gutter maintenance. Clean your gutters regularly, removing any accumulated debris, and make it a habit to inspect your gutters after a heavy rain or any severe weather event. By taking proper care of your gutters and fascia, you can act quickly in the case of a leak.
What are the potential consequences if I ignore the leakage?
Ignoring water leakage has serious consequences for your home. Standing water resulting from leakage can cause mold or mildew in your home, and leaking water between the gutters and fascia can cause structural and foundation issues.
