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Plenty of gutters don't need replacing. They need an afternoon of work. A corner that drips onto the patio every storm, a run that dropped an inch after the last windy night, a downspout that came apart at the elbow and now dumps water by the front door: these are the calls we get most often once the rain starts. On a lot of homes in Cotati and the neighborhoods around it, the gutters themselves are fine and one weak spot is doing all the damage. Left alone, that one spot keeps soaking the same piece of fascia, the same patch of siding or the same corner of the foundation every time it rains. A repair stops that before it turns into wood replacement or a wet crawl space.
This page covers what a gutter problem looks like from the ground, why water sometimes runs behind the gutter instead of into it, how a repair visit works and what to do after a big storm. If your gutters have several problems at once, our gutter replacement page explains when a full swap ends up cheaper over time. Either way, you'll get a straight answer and a written price first.
What a Gutter Problem Looks Like From the Ground
You don't need to climb a ladder to spot most repairs. During a storm, watch for water dripping from one corner or spot while the rest of the gutter stays dry, which usually points to a failed joint or end cap. A run that spills over in one place often has lost its slope, and water collects in the low spot until it overflows. Gaps between the gutter and the fascia mean hangers have let go. After the rain, look for a dark stain on the siding, a line of splash marks under the roof edge or a trench in the soil where water keeps landing. A downspout that's bent, crushed at the bottom or separated at an elbow will show up as a puddle right beside the wall.
Why Water Runs Behind the Gutter
Sometimes the gutter looks fine but the fascia behind it is stained and soft. That usually means water is sneaking behind the gutter instead of dropping into it. On a well-built roof, a strip of metal called drip edge sits under the last row of shingles and laps over the back of the gutter, so water falling off the roof has nowhere to go but into the trough. Older roofs often skipped it, or the gutter was hung too low to catch what comes off the edge. In a hard rain, water clings to the underside of the shingles, runs back along the fascia and drips down behind the gutter. The fix is often a strip of gutter apron or drip edge slipped in under the shingles, plus resetting the gutter tight to the roof line.
How a Repair Visit Works
We start by running water through the gutters with a hose, so we can see exactly where it leaks, pools or overflows instead of guessing. Then we fix what we found. Failed corners and end caps get scraped clean of old sealant and sealed fresh. Sagging runs get new hidden hangers and a corrected slope. Loose downspouts get new straps and elbows, and crushed sections get replaced. If the wood the gutter hangs on has gone soft, we show you before anything else happens, since hanging a gutter back on rotten wood only buys a few months. Most repairs are finished in one visit. Before we leave, we run the hose again so you can see the water going where it should.
Repairs After a Winter Storm
Big storms are when most gutter damage happens. A falling oak or eucalyptus limb can crush a section, high winds can peel a run off the fascia, and the sheer weight of water and wet leaves can pull hangers loose on gutters that were already tired. Homes in Sonoma and up the valley take the brunt when a front comes through with strong south winds. After a storm, keep anyone from walking under a hanging section, take photos for your insurance company, and give us a call. We'll secure anything that's loose, fix what can be fixed, and put a price on the rest in writing, which you can send to your insurer if you're filing a claim.
If a repair turns up a clogged downspout or leaves packed in the trough, we can add a gutter cleaning to the same visit.
Common Questions
For small jobs, sometimes. Resealing one corner or reattaching a loose downspout strap is simple enough. The trouble is that most gutter problems come from something underneath, like a lost slope, a soft fascia board or a missing drip edge, and patching the symptom without fixing the cause brings the leak back next winter. A gutter crew also has the right sealants, hangers and ladders for second-story work. For anything bigger than a single drip, it's worth having it looked at properly.
Often, when the damage comes from a sudden event like a falling tree or a windstorm, though it depends on your policy and deductible. Wear and tear from age usually isn't covered. If a storm damaged your gutters, photograph everything before it's moved and call your insurance company. We'll give you a written, itemized estimate for the repair, which is usually what an adjuster asks for. We don't handle the claim itself, but the paperwork you need from us is part of the visit.
In most cases, yes. Standard K-style aluminum gutters come in a handful of common sizes and a wide range of colors, so a new section usually blends right in. Older or unusual profiles, half-round copper, or gutters that have faded for twenty years can be harder to match exactly. When that happens, we'll show you the closest option before we install it, and tell you if replacing one full side of the house would look better.