Any suggestion about dripping gutter joint please

twopenny

So new place, I get water dripping a lot from a joint. It's drilled a hole in the mortar of my paving in 6mts.

I could see it had been replaced (old one in garage) and multiple pva trying to seal it so I'm thinking that replacing isn't perhaps the answer.

The gutter runs the length between 2 linked bungalows but my neighbour had a new down pipe when the conservatory went it. You'd think that would have helped. She never cleans hers out

An adhesive plaster was suggested by the Window Doctor? I've tentatively put some bathroom sealant along the outside edges.

The problem comes because the gutters expand and contract with the weather. You hear them ping as the day warms up.

It happens to every house, creaking and cracking on a sunny day.

So sealant, gutter plaster, new bracket seal the 2 sections are going to move. Would a new sealed bracket cope with this - before I pay for a change? Is it reasonable that 2 have perished in the 20yrs since building?

     

I can't get up to have a look inside (yet) Trapped nerve in leg so me and ladders No! Tried to get someone to fix it but they aren't interested.

Greatgimp

it needs replacing. Any sealant/adhesive applied is just being put on dirt.

twopenny

But will replacing still seal with the movement.

It's been replaced previously but not in my time.

All others are fine and not showing signs of wear.

I'm wondering if it's the change of my neighbours guttering, not being the straight length that was planned on building.

digannio

I had similar in a couple of places. Bought some cheap like for like seals (mine was square guttering), cleaned out all the gunge along the joints, clamped the new seals in place (the old seals had gone rock hard and inflexible) and they've been watertight ever since.

stuart45

Looks to me like the clip is broken which pulls the gutter down against the rubber seal. Also looks like someone has put a screw into it to hold if up and then used silicone. 
Needs a new union bracket.

grumbler

Gutters always move when temperature changes - you can hear it. The 'unions' with seals are designed for this movement.

You can replace the union or just the rubber seals in it - the latter can be easier to do. And make sure that the bottom of the gutter is clean and smooth before clamping it back.

Sometimes gutter just slips from the rubber seal as a result of small movements - this can be seen from the top. In this case a simple adjustment of its position between two unions can help.

twopenny

Thank you everyone. That explains a lot.

I didn't know about the clip. That makes sense.

Relieved that the creaking and cracking is usual.

I'll look again at the old one in the garage, yes I kept it, to see which seals and if I can find like but a whole piece may be cheaper.

I've wondered if the screws will go into the same holes or if there will be a problem with that.

There seem to be 2 screw holes in that photo which would be easier. I thought mine was one screw under the bracket and I didn't know how I was going to fix that so I'll do some investigation tomorrow of mine and the ones in the builder supplies.

It's annoying I can't get up there and look but so far it's been distancing, lock down and winter to find someone to stand on the ladder for me. That simple.

The window doctor fixed one with a hammer to get it to fit, the path layer the pipe that had come away at the corner just by brute strength.

Bendy_House

That's quite a long stretch of guttering, 2'P, so the expansion and contraction will be quite significant.

Ideally this will happen evenly between all the joints, but in reality some will be more stiff than others, so the less-stiff ones end up taking all the movement! It could also simply be a case of the guttering has been cut a little too short, so pops out when it contracts.

Until yer nerve get better, just place a bucket under the drip and wait for nicer weather

Once you do get up there for a looksee, the solution will depend on the cause. Have a look at Grumb's picture of the bracket above - you can see the rubber seals (which just lift out), the two clips which secure the guttering down (prise them away at the front - much better done in warm weather whilst the plastic is soft), and the two 'stops' in the middle which prevent the guttering moving too much inwards.

In warm weather, you should find the two ends of the guttering at that joint should be very close to the 'stops'. Ie, they should be at near maximum expansion. If, instead, one or more of the gutter ends is sitting away from its 'stop', perhaps even partly under its clip, then that indicates that the gutter is simply too short. OR, that it's moved along into the next joint and is 'stuck' there, so all the exp/cont movement is now happening at this joint. If the gutter end is sitting under the clip when the gutter is warm, then when it cools and contracts, it likely is pulled back to expose the seal = leak. So that's the first thing to check.

If you prise the clip away from the front (can be stiff, even in warm weather...), then the front edge of the gutter will lift out, and you can withdraw it from the back clip too. Check the rubber seals - if they are perished, then replace them.

If the gutter is too short, then you have a few options. One is to replace with a length that's slightly longer - probably by 15mm. Possibly you can find a union joint that's slightly wider? Ie, good chance that the actual guttering is a standard size - say 100mm - so the brackets from a few different manufacturers could fit, and one could be a bit wider than this one. The bracket should have the manufacturer's name embossed on it, and there's a good chance you can find with Google "Which guttering will fit Marley/PolyPipe/whatsit".

If it's simply due to the run being too long - ie too much natural gutter movement - then perhaps you can explain this to the neighbour and suggest that you split the guttering at the boundary line? 

NSG666

When you (get someone to) replace the seals / fitting, readjust the whole run, pop the joints open, clean up and use this or similar prior to fitting back together - should help with the clicking and slow down one sticky fitting puling the gutter out of the other:

FloPlast Silicone Spray 40ml | Guttering Accessories | Screwfix.com

twopenny

Again thank you lots!
I feel like I know exactly what I'm doing now which feels much better....
Excellently explained.
There are two other joints not leaking so I'll examine all for length. And I have silicone spray.

Re bucket. Yes it's there but overflows with one night of rain, it saves on my water bill for the garden.