Botched gutter installation - what should I watch for now?
#1
09-20-10, 07:53 PM
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Botched gutter installation - what should I watch for now?
Hi,
Apolgies for the length of this. Executive summary: looking at the attached pics, do I need to worry about the exposed wood and the holes the installers left in the aluminum drip edge and fascia? How should the items be repaired? If the installers did this in the first place, how can I trust them to repair the mess? Is it really a mess, or am I overly concerned?
The gory details (it helps me cope to put this down):
I recently did not "do it myself" and paid someone to install seamless aluminum gutters (in the case of seamless gutters, I guess this is normal).
After a few days (one wet day), I got the ladder out and checked things out. There was standing water in the gutters (say, 1/2" to 5/8" high in at least one spot) Thinking this was not desirable, I called the installer and made them aware of this. A representative came out and made some adjustments. The attached photos are indicative of the current state of things, post "adjustments". The rep said he needed to install a gutter apron and didn't have anything with him, so he'd come back.
So - now that the gutter hangers have been attached and detached a few times and in multiple places including the drip edge and directly into the fascia... I have some questions...
1) Do the holes need to be repaired? How would that be done? How can I be sure the holes behind the gutter are repaired, if that's necessary?
2) How can the installer repair the aluminum around the corners where the wood is now exposed? Is this typical of gutter installations?
3) Anything else I should check for, ask about, or be aware of?
4) Am I overly concerned about this stuff?
Thanks for your feedback/advice/suggestions/guidance. I have great respect for people who are willing to help others in the manner that this forum promotes.
Apolgies for the length of this. Executive summary: looking at the attached pics, do I need to worry about the exposed wood and the holes the installers left in the aluminum drip edge and fascia? How should the items be repaired? If the installers did this in the first place, how can I trust them to repair the mess? Is it really a mess, or am I overly concerned?
The gory details (it helps me cope to put this down):
I recently did not "do it myself" and paid someone to install seamless aluminum gutters (in the case of seamless gutters, I guess this is normal).
After a few days (one wet day), I got the ladder out and checked things out. There was standing water in the gutters (say, 1/2" to 5/8" high in at least one spot) Thinking this was not desirable, I called the installer and made them aware of this. A representative came out and made some adjustments. The attached photos are indicative of the current state of things, post "adjustments". The rep said he needed to install a gutter apron and didn't have anything with him, so he'd come back.
So - now that the gutter hangers have been attached and detached a few times and in multiple places including the drip edge and directly into the fascia... I have some questions...
1) Do the holes need to be repaired? How would that be done? How can I be sure the holes behind the gutter are repaired, if that's necessary?
2) How can the installer repair the aluminum around the corners where the wood is now exposed? Is this typical of gutter installations?
3) Anything else I should check for, ask about, or be aware of?
4) Am I overly concerned about this stuff?
Thanks for your feedback/advice/suggestions/guidance. I have great respect for people who are willing to help others in the manner that this forum promotes.
Last edited by KenJackson_III; 09-20-10 at 07:59 PM. Reason: typo, add question 3
#2
09-20-10, 08:37 PM
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First off a small amount of standing water is acceptable in an aluminum gutter system. The holes from removing the gutters can simply be cualked and will be fine but the caulk will over the years decay and need to be replaced. You will be hard pressed to get the gutter company to replace the facia metal. The dripedge was likely cut like that when it was installed. I couldn't see why the gable end drip edge would have been touched to install the gutters. So if it was my house I would get them to caulk all the holes with 100% GE Silicone. It will last 20yrs. Hope this helped.
p.s. I wouldn't worry to much about the decking you can see(unless its an eyesore)...the shingles will protect it. It should have been sniped by the roofer to take the corner.
___________________
American Roofing Company
Rome, GA 30161
p.s. I wouldn't worry to much about the decking you can see(unless its an eyesore)...the shingles will protect it. It should have been sniped by the roofer to take the corner.
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American Roofing Company
Rome, GA 30161
#3
09-20-10, 09:52 PM
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Thank you for your response, americanroofing.
I can appreciate that a small amount of standing water is considered acceptable. I was never given an expectation, tried to find some guidance on the matter, and was not able to. So, I tried to logically process things - if the goal of the gutters (in a layman homeowner's terms or idea) is to channel the water from the roof away from the house, then the standing water would seem to the casual thinker to be undesirable. I didn't ask them to come "fix" things - I indicated there was standing water. They saw fit to make adjustments, so they must have determined the water to be more than a "small amount"? There were three "islands" of water (pools surrounded by dry aluminum) each 20 or more feet long in the gutter system. Depth varied.
My concern with filling the holes is that it would likely involve them dropping the gutters to get behind them. You're right about your assessment that I will probably be hard pressed to get them to replace the fascia covering - I think I'll be hard pressed to get them to fill the holes!
The drip edge was not like that when it was installed. The gutter installers modified it. The rep indicated that the edge is often cut like that so the gutter that extends past the edge of the house can fit under the drip edge. If you look in the picture, you can see the wear on the corner of the fascia covering from where the drip edge had previously covered it. Now the drip edge is folded back under itself and secured to the fascia board with a sheet metal screw. It's like that on all corners - some corners have more exposed wood than others.
I am worried about the decking because I am under the impression that water or critters would be inclined to find their way into these areas. Could the corners be wrapped with some kind of formed aluminum strips?
Thanks again for your thoughts and input! I'm worrying myself sick about this because it has the appearances of an unprofessional job that has the potential to cause future problems if the issues I believe I'm seeing are not properly remedied, and I have to rely on the company that did this in the first place, making things "right".
I can appreciate that a small amount of standing water is considered acceptable. I was never given an expectation, tried to find some guidance on the matter, and was not able to. So, I tried to logically process things - if the goal of the gutters (in a layman homeowner's terms or idea) is to channel the water from the roof away from the house, then the standing water would seem to the casual thinker to be undesirable. I didn't ask them to come "fix" things - I indicated there was standing water. They saw fit to make adjustments, so they must have determined the water to be more than a "small amount"? There were three "islands" of water (pools surrounded by dry aluminum) each 20 or more feet long in the gutter system. Depth varied.
My concern with filling the holes is that it would likely involve them dropping the gutters to get behind them. You're right about your assessment that I will probably be hard pressed to get them to replace the fascia covering - I think I'll be hard pressed to get them to fill the holes!
The drip edge was not like that when it was installed. The gutter installers modified it. The rep indicated that the edge is often cut like that so the gutter that extends past the edge of the house can fit under the drip edge. If you look in the picture, you can see the wear on the corner of the fascia covering from where the drip edge had previously covered it. Now the drip edge is folded back under itself and secured to the fascia board with a sheet metal screw. It's like that on all corners - some corners have more exposed wood than others.
I am worried about the decking because I am under the impression that water or critters would be inclined to find their way into these areas. Could the corners be wrapped with some kind of formed aluminum strips?
Thanks again for your thoughts and input! I'm worrying myself sick about this because it has the appearances of an unprofessional job that has the potential to cause future problems if the issues I believe I'm seeing are not properly remedied, and I have to rely on the company that did this in the first place, making things "right".
