Best sealant’s UK and repair tips
Best sealant’s in the Uk for plastic guttering tend to be thicker grades then usual we use Stixall clear sealant as the clear version is a thicker grade then their black or white sealant and blends well to any colour guttering, you could also use CT1 sealant which is just as good and the handy bit is both can be used when the part is actively dripping so makes life easier. Isoflex liquid rubber is a brilliant option for metal guttering make sure it is dry and clean before applying, you can find more info on our guide below.
Being experts in this field we will run through the best sealants and if a repair is the best way forward for you, the first thing you would want to do is inspect the part of guttering you want to repair. Is it plastic if yes are the clips still putting pressure on to the guttering or are they damaged or loose, if there is still pressure between the part and the guttering and the clips are in good condition simply unclip the part and apply sealant where the rubber is. You want to apply enough so that when you clip the part back to the guttering it oozes out and then you want to wet your finger with water or as disgusting as it is sounds spit works best and start from one end of the part gliding your finger all the way up to the other end and check to see the seal looks good and has no pin prick holes. This will allow the sealed part to remain sealed a lot longer then just sealing the outside of the part. If the plastic part is damaged we would recommend checking the shape of you gutter and here are a few if the most common shapes to help you out half round, square, ogee, deepflow/high cap, then check what part it is a corner, union bracket/joiner, end cap or outlet then try to find thee brand on the guttering or take measurements to find a close profile to match it and replace the part like for like. remember joiners and outlets need to be screwed into the fascia and make sure the parts are flowing towards the downpipe, we use a spirit level to do this.
If the part is metal, especially cast iron, check for corrosion as it may simply be time to replace it not just to save you time of having to eventually repair it, but cast iron is a very heavy material and can cause serious damage to your property or even worse a person on its way down. If it is just a minor drip from a bolt or seam then you can once again seal it like before but this time do it from the inside of the gutter blobbing over the leaking area and wetting finger and spreading the sealant out so it does not cause a barrier for the rain water to pass over. You may want to consider using a rubber sealant like Isoflex liquid rubber as this will allow a smaller barrier for the rain water to pass over and will last just as long if not longer then sealant on metal guttering.
A well repaired gutter should last 3yrs plus so try and do the job to the best of your ability and good luck, if you have found our blog helpful please feel free to leave us a review on the link below.