While Texas is usually quite dry around the year, storms can still come out of nowhere. And when it rains in Texas, it downpours. If your gutters are made from unprotected metals, they can easily build up rust and eventually become ineffective at draining water away from your house.
Besides regular cleaning, you’ll find rust to be one of the biggest issues you encounter with your gutters. That’s why your gutter company is ready to make fixing and/or replacing your rusty gutters a simple one. Today, we’ll discuss exactly how to do that.
How to Look for Rust
When looking for rust, check for a reddish-brown color on your gutters. If you’ve ever seen an old, brown, chain-link fence or used an old cast iron pan, you’ll recognize this color. You’ll want to make checking for rust part of your routine house maintenance as this will make removing it easier. Consider checking at least once a month and if you live in an area that gets more rain than usual, increase it to 2 or 3 times a month.
Make sure to check inside the gutter run itself, not just the outside. Since that area is exposed to far more moisture, rust will appear there sooner than on the outside. After you’ve determined there’s rust, you can start removing and preventing future rust from occurring.
Preventing and Removing Rust in the Future
Removing the rust is quite straightforward. Just take any wire brush and scrub down any small areas you can find. If you don’t have a wire brush, use a fine-grade sandpaper to gently remove it as well. Avoid using coarse-grade sandpapers as these can actually scratch and further damage your gutters. Make sure to be as thorough as possible to prevent the rust from spreading.
Once you’ve got your gutter free of rust, you’ll want to invest in a metal primer. This will help reduce future rust from building up in the future. While prevention is simple measure, your rusty gutters won’t last forever. Here’s how you know it’s time to get them replaced by your gutter company.
When Should You Replace Your Gutter Entirely?
If your gutters are showing significant amounts of rust, it might be too late to consider keeping it at all. If you notice an area of rust that’s spread larger than three inches, you’ll want to consider replacing it. This also depends on where the rust is occurring. If the rust has created holes greater than a centimeter in size, it should be replaced. Anything smaller is considered patchable, such as small cracks or separations.
If there is significant rust caked on your gutters, don’t let it put your home at risk. Call you gutter company today for a professional evaluation and replacement!
Meet the Platinum Gutters Team
Platinum Gutters carries a wide variety of gutter styles, colors, and protections systems to replace your rusty gutters. They make sure you walk away with more knowledge on your gutter options before and after doing business with them. To meet the team and receive an estimate from an expert on residential gutter replacement, contact us at (817) 380-4404 or visit our website for more info.