Gutters fail in predictable ways. Corners and end caps leak as sealant ages out at year 5 to 8. Runs sag where hangers pulled out of the fascia. Downspouts detach where the band screws backed out. Sectional seams open up. The good news is that most of these failures are repairable for $150 to $600. The bad news is that left untreated, leaking gutters rot fascia ($800 to $1,500 in carpentry) and soak foundations ($3,000 to $15,000 in foundation repair). Catch the leak early, fix it cheap. This page covers the four most common failure modes and what each one costs to fix.
- Cost?
- $150 to $600 for most gutter repair scope of work.
- Speed?
- 48 to 72 hour scheduling on most calls, same-day for emergencies.
- Repair or replace?
- Repair under 20 years and localized damage, replace older or widespread.
- Insurance?
- Storm damage covered, wear-and-tear not covered. We document either way.
Leaks at corners and end caps
The most common gutter failure mode. Factory or field-applied sealant at every miter and end cap shrinks and cracks at year 5 to 8. Water leaks through the corner during every rain. Fix is to scrape the old sealant, clean and dry the corner, and re-seal with high-grade tripolymer sealant ($150 to $250 per corner). If the corner is severely corroded or the metal is cracked, the corner is fabricated new on site and installed ($250 to $450 per corner).
Sagging gutter runs
Sag is caused by hanger failure: spikes or screws back out of the fascia, hangers spaced too far apart, or rotted fascia behind the hangers. Fix depends on the cause. If the hangers are just backed out, we re-secure with longer through-fascia screws into the rafter tails ($200 to $350). If the hangers are spaced too far apart, we add hangers at proper 24 inch spacing ($250 to $400). If the fascia is rotted, the gutter comes down, the fascia is replaced ($400 to $1,200), and the gutter goes back up.
Downspout detachment and reroute
Downspouts detach where the band screws back out, where the elbow joints separate, or where wind and ladder damage pull them loose. Fix is reattachment with stainless steel sheet metal screws and tripolymer sealant ($200 to $400). Reroute (extending the downspout out further from the foundation or burying a PVC drain line) runs $300 to $700 depending on length and concrete cutting.
Fascia damage from extended gutter failure
When a leaking gutter goes untreated for years, water saturates the fascia board behind the gutter and rots it. Eventually the rotted fascia cannot hold gutter hangers. The repair becomes a carpentry job: gutter comes down, rotted fascia is removed (often the rotted area extends 8 to 16 feet beyond the visible damage), new primed cedar or PVC fascia is installed, gutter is reinstalled or replaced. Typical scope runs $800 to $2,400 depending on length. We catch this early at inspection and fix it before the damage spreads to the roof sheathing.
Leak sealing
Tripolymer sealant at corners and end caps. 10 year warranty.
Re-pitching and re-hanging
Proper 1/4 inch per 10 feet slope toward downspouts.
Hidden hanger upgrade
Replace spike-and-ferrule with hidden hangers and through-fascia screws.
Downspout reattachment
Stainless steel screws and sealant. No more pull-aways.
Downspout reroute
Extend out, redirect to drain lines, or run underground to street.
Fascia and soffit repair
Cedar or PVC fascia replacement when rot has set in.
