Reviewed November 3, 2026. Gutter Installation St. Louis is a referral service; independent contractors do the work.
Most gutter repairs are one of four things: a leaking joint, a run that has lost its fall, loose hangers, or a downspout coming away from the wall. In St. Louis, freeze and thaw works those weak spots harder each winter. A good repair also asks why it failed, because a sag over rotten fascia will come back. Ask for the cause as well as the fix, in writing.
- Common failures
- Corner and outlet joints, loose hangers, lost fall, loose straps
- Check on old houses
- Soft wood, loose top courses of brick, old patches
- DIY or hire
- Ground-level fixes are yours. Ladder work on tall brick is not.
- Ask for
- The cause, the fix and the price, in writing
What's actually wrong?
| What you see | Likely cause | Usual fix |
|---|---|---|
| Drip at a corner or outlet | Sealant failed | Clean, re-seal or re-rivet |
| Water over the front edge | Clog, or the run has lost its fall | Clean, then re-hang to fall |
| Trough sagging | Hangers pulled out of soft wood | Repair wood, new hangers |
| Stain down the brick | Leak behind the gutter or at the drip edge | Check flashing and back edge |
| Downspout loose | Strap fixings have failed in old mortar | Re-fix with care for the masonry |
| Water at the wall base | Downspout ends too close | Extend or re-route |
What winter does
Lambert's normals show 84.8 days a year at or below freezing overnight but only 19.3 that stay below freezing all day. That leaves roughly 65 days when a wet gutter freezes and then thaws. Ice in a joint pushes it open slightly, the thaw lets water in deeper, and the next freeze takes it further. So small leaks often appear in late winter, once the cycle has done its work. (NOAA normals)
Repairs on old brick
Wet masonry and gutter failures tend to travel together. The National Park Service lists rehanging gutters and repairing downspouts among the measures that address most sources of unwanted exterior moisture, and says clogged gutters should always be corrected promptly (NPS Brief 39). If a contractor plans to re-fix straps, ask what they'll do about crumbling joints around the old fixing. More on old brick.
Patches to be careful with
The National Park Service's maintenance brief suggests patching holes in metal gutters with fiberglass tape and epoxy adhesive, and warns against asphalt compounds, whose acids can worsen metal gutters (NPS Brief 47). A tar smear on an old gutter often means the leak has been chased before. Ask what the contractor will use.
When repair is the wrong answer
If leaks are spread along the run or the metal is thin with rust, you may be paying for repeat visits. Ask for a straight comparison with replacement. And if your gutter is built into the cornice, you need a box gutter repair, a different kind of job.
What to ask the contractor
- What caused it?A repair with no cause tends to return. Ask them to show you, with photos if it's high up.
- What will you use?Ask about sealant, rivets and fasteners, and avoid asphalt patches on metal.
- Is the wood behind it sound?Ask them to check before re-hanging anything.
- Is there a price before you start?Get it in writing, including any trip charge. Ask how long the work is guaranteed, if at all.
- Will you test it?Ask for water through the run after the fix.
Repair around St. Louis
Each page covers that place's houses, trees and permit desk.
City of St. Louis
- Soulard
- Lafayette Square
- Benton Park
- Tower Grove South
- Shaw
- Central West End
- The Hill
- Dogtown
- St. Louis Hills
- Carondelet
St. Louis County
- Clayton
- University City
- Webster Groves
- Kirkwood
- Maplewood
- Ladue
- Creve Coeur
- Chesterfield
- Ballwin
- Affton
- Oakville
- Florissant
St. Charles County
Repair: questions
Can I fix a leaking gutter joint myself?
A low, one-story joint is a fair weekend job if you're safe on a ladder: clean it dry, then re-seal it. Tall brick walls and steep roofs are a different matter. The National Park Service notes that beyond cleaning and minor repairs, most roof-edge work calls for an outside contractor.
Why do my gutters overflow when they're clean?
Usually the fall has been lost, the downspout is too small for the roof area, or a valley dumps more water at one spot than the run can carry. Ask the contractor to check those three things before anything else.
Is a sagging gutter urgent?
It deserves attention soon. A sag holds water, which freezes and adds weight, which pulls harder on the fixings. It also often means the wood behind has softened. Have someone check before winter if you can.
Why is my brick stained below the gutter?
Water is probably getting behind the trough or overshooting it. Left alone, wet masonry suffers in freeze and thaw. Fix the water first and clean or repoint later. The National Park Service stresses that order.
Further reading
- How to check a gutter contractor in Missouri
- Storm-damaged gutters in Missouri: insurance, contractors and your rights
- Gutters on old St. Louis brick homes
- Ice dams and freeze and thaw: what St. Louis winters do to gutters
- A year of gutter care in St. Louis
Related work
- Gutter Replacement: Taking the old system off and starting again, including whatever the removal uncovers underneath.
- Fascia & Soffit Repair: The boards a gutter hangs on. If they're soft, a new gutter won't stay up for long.
- Downspouts & Drainage: Getting roof water away from old foundations and out of the sanitary sewer, without sending it to the neighbor.
- Box Gutter Repair: Gutters built into the cornice of older houses. When they fail, water goes straight into the wall.