Why is water dripping behind my gutters?
Water that runs behind a gutter usually means the roof edge is missing drip edge, or the drip edge there is too short. The gutter can be hung too low or pulled away from the fascia. The water rolls under the roof edge and down the fascia, which rots the wood and stains the wall.
If you want me to take a look, text a picture to 443-900-4815 or call the same number. I'm James. I've worked on roofs and gutters around Baltimore City and Baltimore County for 24+ years, and I'm licensed and insured, MHIC #154344.
What is drip edge?
Drip edge is a thin metal strip along the bottom edge of the roof. It sits under the first row of shingles, bends down over the fascia board, and carries water off the shingles and into the gutter, instead of letting it curl back under the roof edge.
- Missing drip edge: many older Baltimore roofs were put on without it.
- Short drip edge: when there's a gap between the roof edge and the back of the gutter, we extend the drip edge so the water reaches the gutter.
For a picture of where these parts sit, see parts of a roof.
What are the signs?
- Drips or a sheet of water coming down between the gutter and the house when it rains.
- Dark streaks or peeling paint on the fascia board or the wall right under the gutter.
- Soft or rotted fascia, or a gutter that's starting to sag because the wood behind it is weak.
- Ice along the back of the gutter and down the wall in winter.
- Stains on the soffit, the flat boards under the roof overhang.
What happens if I leave it?
The water keeps soaking the fascia board, and the soffit next to it, until they rot. Rotted fascia can't hold the gutter hangers, so the gutter sags and starts to pull away, which lets even more water behind it. Water running down the wall can also find its way into window frames and the basement. See soffit and fascia repair.
If a gutter is sagging or coming loose, here's why gutters pull away from the house.
Can caulk fix it?
Not for long. A bead of caulk between the roof and the gutter might slow the drip for a season, but it cracks in the sun and the cold, and it doesn't fix the reason the water is getting behind the gutter. The real fix is metal that carries the water into the gutter.
What we do
- Look at the roof edge, the gutter, and the fascia where the water is coming through.
- Send you pictures of what we found, with a price before any work starts.
- Add or extend the drip edge so water lands in the gutter.
- Reset the gutter if it's hung too low or has pulled away, and make sure it still drains to the downspout.
- Replace rotted fascia or soffit before the gutter goes back up, so the hangers have solid wood to hold.
See gutter cleaning and repair for more on how we handle gutters.
You can text me at 443-900-4815 with a picture of where the water comes down, or call the same number.
Water behind gutter questions
What is drip edge?
Drip edge is a bent metal strip that sits under the first row of shingles and bends down over the fascia. It carries water off the roof edge so the water lands in the gutter instead of behind it.
Can drip edge be added to an older roof?
Yes. We add drip edge where it's missing, or extend it where it's too short to reach the gutter, without redoing the whole roof.
Can caulk fix water behind gutters?
Only for a short time. Caulk cracks in the sun and the cold. Metal that carries the water into the gutter is the lasting fix.
Why is my fascia rotting behind the gutter?
Water is getting behind the gutter and soaking the board, usually because the roof edge has no drip edge, or the gutter is clogged and overflowing at the back. Once the wood is soft, it needs to be replaced before the gutter is hung again.
Can a clogged gutter cause water behind the gutter?
Yes. When a gutter is full, water can spill over the back edge as well as the front. If it only drips behind the gutter during a hard rain, check for a clog first. See why gutters overflow.
