Gutter repair: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering gutter repair

Gutter repair is a fix-it job where the leak is usually at a joint, a hanger or a slope problem, and the customer wants it stopped before the next rain. Your win is locating the real cause fast and showing the repair in a clear, itemized quote.

What customers ask

  • Where is the leak, and can you show me on the gutter?
  • Can you fix just the leaking section, or does the whole run need replacing?
  • Why does my gutter sag, and will it sag again?
  • Can you match my old gutter profile?
  • Will the repair hold through the next storm?
  • Can you fix the fascia behind the gutter too?

How to win the job

  • On the first call, ask where the water shows up, whether it leaks at the joints or runs behind the gutter, and when the gutter last sagged or was repaired.
  • Bring the profile and sealant to the visit, and show the homeowner the joint you will reseal and the hanger you will replace.
  • Run a hose along each gutter on the site visit and photograph the leak points while the homeowner watches the water.
  • Put each leak location, sealant, hanger count and downspout part in the quote by name, so the homeowner sees what each line fixes.
  • Explain how you will reset the slope and check the downspout after the repair, since a sealed seam still fails if the water does not reach the outlet.
  • List fascia or soffit damage as its own line and show the photos before cutting any wood.
  • Send a closeout note that lists the repaired locations and what to watch for after heavy rain.

What to put on your profile

  • Before and after photos of gutter repairs that show the leaking joint, the new sealant and the reset slope
  • Gutter profiles and parts you stock or can match, such as hangers, outlets and elbows
  • Repair services you offer, such as joint resealing, hanger replacement and downspout repair
  • Service area and whether you handle fascia repair in the same visit

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Offer a gutter cleaning the next season if the repair found debris packed in the trough.
  • Suggest a fascia and soffit check if the back of the gutter shows staining or soft wood.
  • Recommend a gutter replacement quote only if the existing system has failed in several places, and explain why.

Licenses and permits

Gutter repair is commonly offered by general exterior contractors, and rules vary by place. Check your state and local licensing requirements, and check contractor or roofing licensing for any fascia or roof edge work.

Questions

Do I need a permit for a gutter repair?

Usually not for resealing or hanger work. Repairs that change drainage, underground lines or the roof edge can need a permit. Check with the local building office before you start that work.

How do I handle a repair that exposes rotted fascia?

Stop, photograph the damage, and send a priced change order before you replace the board. Do not fasten new hangers into wood that will not hold.

What sealant should I use?

Use a gutter sealant rated for the gutter material and the temperatures of the job. Clean and dry the joint first, because sealant does not bond well to wet or oily metal.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

Edit history

More roofs and exterior guides for pros

Start here

About this guide

Get gutter repair requests

Customers pick you by name. Signup is free, and you pay only for leads you accept.

Join as a pro
Sign up free