+ Enlarge Photo

– Shrink Photo

Ryan Snook

Gutter Falls Off

Gutters and downspouts channel water away from your foundation and, as a result, take a lot of abuse. Over time, the spikes holding them to the rafters and roof structure can work their way out or the wood can rot and give way, resulting in a gutter falling off. First, check the condition of the roof structure and make any repairs. If they're minor, you can use a wood-hardening product to restore it. If the wood doesn't need repair and the spikes just worked their way out, you've got a couple of options. One, you can fill the hole with an exterior wood filler and drive the spike back in after it sets. Two, you can replace the gutter spike with a gutter screw. The threads on the screw will grab the wood and hold much better than ordinary spikes.