Dented run straightening
A run that is dented but not split can often be straightened and refixed. A cracked run is replaced, because a crack will widen as the metal moves through the seasons.
Serving Marion County
Gutter and Downspout Repair in Indianapolis, IN
Straightening or replacing gutter runs, clearing ice-blocked outlets and resetting the downspouts that carry water away from the wall.
- Ice dams and freeze-thaw
- Marion County and suburbs
- Roof repair and replacement
Get a fast quote
Fastest: call (833) 751-2102. Or send this and we call you back.
Gutters
Gutter and Downspout Repair: what it covers
Quick answer
Gutter and downspout repair keeps the drainage working through winter thaws and spring storms. Ice dams back water into the gutters, and wind from storms bends runs and pulls downspouts loose. In Indianapolis the gutters are checked on the same visit as the roof, because the same storm and the same ice often mark both.
Gutters take a great deal of what the roof takes. An ice dam backs water into the runs, a gust bends the metal, and a spring hail storm dents it. A gutter that has lost its fall stops draining, and water then runs down the wall or freezes at the eave, which makes the next dam worse.
Indianapolis Roofing connects Indianapolis callers with a local technician who checks the gutters, downspouts and brackets with the roof. The findings are recorded together, so the storm picture is complete, and the gutter work is quoted separately.
The sections below explain the common gutter damage in Indianapolis winters and storms, the repairs that suit it and what to ask for when a run is replaced.
- Service area
- Indianapolis & Marion County
- Availability
- Phones answered 24/7
- Phone
- (833) 751-2102
Why do ice dams damage gutters as well as the roof?
An ice dam holds meltwater at the eave, and the water backs into the gutter and freezes there. The ice expands, bends the run and pulls the brackets, and the gutter that was fine in autumn can sag or split by spring.
A gutter full of ice is heavy, and the brackets take that weight through the winter. A bracket driven into soft fascia can pull loose, and the run then sags, which holds more water and makes the next freeze worse.
Ice in the gutter also blocks the outlet, so the water that the run should carry away goes over the front or down the wall. The technician checks the outlet and the downspout as well as the run.
How do wind and hail bend a gutter run?
Wind lifts and bends the runs at their brackets, and hail leaves round dents in the metal. Both can crack a seam or open a joint, and the run then leaks from the joint rather than the outlet.
A gust that comes from one side loads the runs on that side, and the brackets at the ends take the strain. The run can pull away from the fascia, and a run that is pulled away does not carry its water to the outlet.
Round dents from hail are the clearest sign of a storm on a house. The dents are checked against the vents and the flashing on the same roof, and the record puts them together.
When should a gutter be straightened and when replaced?
A dented gutter that still holds its fall and has no cracks can be straightened. A split, cracked or permanently sagging run should be replaced, because it will keep leaking at the joint.
Straightening works on shallow dents that do not crack the metal. A crack will widen as the metal moves, and straightening can make it worse, so each dent is checked before any work is done.
A replaced run is set to the house's fall and fixed into sound fascia. The new section is joined to the old one with a sealed joint, and the joint is checked after the first heavy rain.
How should downspouts be set so they do not damage the foundation?
Downspouts should discharge water well away from the foundation, into a splash block or an extension. Water that lands against a wall can erode the soil and wet the wall, so the outlet is set on purpose.
A downspout that discharges at the foot of the wall sends water to the same place every storm. Over time that erodes the soil and can push water toward the foundation.
The elbows and the outlet should be checked for blockage each autumn, since leaves and granules collect there. A blocked downspout overflows the gutter above it, even when the gutter itself is set correctly.
Is gutter repair part of a roof insurance claim?
It can be, if the damage came from the same storm or ice event as the roof damage. The insurer decides what the policy covers, and the gutter findings are recorded with the roof so the claim has one complete picture.
A gutter that was dented in the same storm as the shingles is part of the storm record. The dents and the roof marks are photographed together, and the record names the date and the warning.
The homeowner should check how the policy treats gutters and downspouts, and ask the insurer directly. This page does not state what a policy covers for gutters.
Warning signs
Signs you need gutter and downspout repair
Gutter work is done from a ladder or a roof edge, and both carry a fall risk. Do not climb a ladder to clear gutters after rain or on an icy morning, and do not stand on a roof edge to check a run. Keep the ladder on firm, level ground and tie it off where the manufacturer advises. Work above head height is best left to a technician with the right equipment.
- Ice built up inside the gutter run through the winter, in one section
- Water pouring over the gutter front during a heavy rain
- A downspout that is split, crushed or pulled away from the wall
- A gutter that sags between brackets and holds standing water
- Stains on the fascia board below a gutter run
- Water pooling at the foot of the downspout outlet
- Round dents in gutter metal that match dents in a vent cap
Our process
How our gutter and downspout repair visit works
Walk the gutter line
Each run is walked from end to end, checking for dents, sags, loose brackets and damaged joints. The downspouts are checked from the top to the outlet.
Check the fall and the outlets
Gutters need a slight fall toward the outlets. A run that has lost its fall holds water, and the runs that need resetting are recorded.
Straighten, seal or replace
Dented sections are straightened where the metal allows, and split sections are replaced. Joints are resealed and brackets are fixed into sound fascia or rafter ends.
Check the fascia and the splash point
The fascia under the gutter and the ground at the outlet are checked for water damage and erosion. A splash block or an extension is recommended where water lands against the wall.
Add the findings to the roof record
The gutter photographs are added to the roof record, and the storm marks are noted in the same place, so the homeowner has one document covering both.
Options
Types and options for gutter and downspout repair
Downspout and outlet repair
Split downspouts, crushed elbows and missing outlets are repaired or replaced. The water is directed to a splash point that keeps it off the foundation.
Full gutter replacement
A whole system is replaced where the runs are split or permanently out of shape. The new system is set to the house's fall and fixed into sound fascia.
Job stories
Typical jobs for gutter and downspout repair
A gutter run pulled from the fascia by a winter of ice
- What homeowners notice
- After a winter of ice dams, a run of gutter on an older house has pulled away from the fascia at one end and now sags toward the ground. Water runs over the front of the gutter in every rain, and the downspout below is cracked.
- What we do
- The crew checks the brackets and the fascia behind them, and finds the bracket at the sag has pulled soft wood with it. The fascia is repaired, the bracket is refixed into sound timber, and the run is reset to its fall. The cracked downspout is replaced and the outlet extended away from the wall.
- What to expect
- The run drains again. The report records the bracket and fascia repair, the new downspout and extension, and photographs of the run before and after, which go into the roof record for the eave.
Need gutter and downspout repair today?
Call any hour and explain what is going on. You get a clear price before any work starts.
Marion County
Why gutter and downspout repair is different in Central Indiana
The January 2005 ice storm knocked out power to as many as 150,000 homes in Indiana, according to the NWS Indianapolis office, and winter ice has been a regular test of the gutters across the metro since. A gutter that has been frozen solid in one section needs its brackets checked before the thaw.
The 10 August 2020 derecho brought wind damage across central Indiana, with trees and power lines down. Gutter runs on the exposed sides of houses were among the things a wind storm can bend, and the record for each address notes them.
On older houses such as those in Broad Ripple and Irvington, the fascia can be soft. The technician checks the fascia before a bracket is refixed, because a bracket driven into soft wood will not hold.
Related
Related services
Ice Dam Roof Repair
Clearing the eaves, finding where ice-dam water got in, and repairing the roof and attic so the next thaw does not repeat it.
Hail Damage Roof Inspection
A slope-by-slope count of hail hits, the metal parts checked, and a dated record that separates storm marks from older wear.
Seasonal Roof Checkup
A planned visit in autumn before the ice season and in spring before the storm season, recording the roof's state against the last record.
Wind Damage Roof Repair
Re-sealing lifted shingles, replacing missing ridge caps and securing the flashing that straight-line gusts pull loose.
Where we work
Gutter and Downspout Repair across Marion County
- Gutters in Indianapolis
- Gutters in Haughville
- Gutters in Fountain Square
- Gutters in Meridian-Kessler
- Gutters in Beech Grove
- Gutters in Irvington
- Gutters in Lawrence
- Gutters in Speedway
- Gutters in Southport
- Gutters in Decatur Township
- Gutters in Broad Ripple
- Gutters in Clermont
- Gutters in Cumberland
- Gutters in Castleton
- Gutters in Greenwood
- Gutters in Camby
- Gutters in Avon
- Gutters in Brownsburg
- Gutters in Plainfield
- Gutters in New Palestine
- Gutters in Carmel
- Gutters in Zionsville
- Gutters in Fishers
- Gutters in Whiteland
Not sure if you're covered? Check your ZIP code.
FAQ
Gutter and Downspout Repair FAQs
Should gutters be checked after every hail storm?
Yes, if a storm reached the area. The gutters are often the clearest sign of a storm, and checking them on the same visit as the roof gives a complete picture.
Can a dented gutter be straightened?
Often, if the dent is shallow and the metal is not cracked. The technician checks before deciding, and a cracked run should be replaced.
Why does water run down my wall by the downspout?
Usually the downspout discharges too close to the wall, or the outlet is blocked. An extension or a splash block carries the water away, and the elbows are cleared.
Does gutter damage count toward a claim?
It can, if it came from the same storm. The insurer decides what the policy covers. The record notes the gutter findings with the roof photographs.
How often should gutters be cleaned?
It depends on the trees, the season and the storms. The technician can suggest a schedule for the house, and cleaning after a heavy storm is a good habit.
Can you replace the gutters at the same time as the roof?
Yes, and it is often the best time. The gutters and the roof edge are worked on together, and the new gutters are fixed into sound fascia on the same visit.