Why Does Water Leak From Soffits Behind Gutters

Do you have water leaking behind your gutters.

Why does water leak from soffits behind gutters.

Micro mesh gutter guards are the best on the market according to the ncr consumer advocacy group. If water runs through to the downspout without a hitch you ve solved the problem. However a gutter apron is different from a drip edge because it hangs over the gutters and then angles back toward the house. If you don t relish the thought of regular gutter cleaning fit your gutters with gutter guards but beware of wide mesh guards that allow pine needles and smaller debris to pass through.

Some of the water may leak behind the gutters down towards the soffit and the fascia. It seems to me that the problem is in the rain gutter which does not appear to have any slope to it. The gutter apron prevents water from ever reaching the soffit by leading water straight into the gutters. Without a proper slope to the gutter water will just stack up in the gutter and run over the edge if it gets too full looking like there is a roof problem.

For example most ranch style homes have a 3 12 or 4 12 pitch roof. And it doesn t stop there. Have rain water dripping out from between your facia and gutters. 1 drip edge is caught behind the gutter.

If the gutter is clogged some of that water will back up on the roof soaking it. Because water does not flow down the gutters properly during the winter snow that begins to melt off the roof can freeze again and end up pushed against the soffit because the rain gutters are full. Gutters are supposed to direct water away from your roof and into the ground. Capillary action is a water activity in which water adheres to a surface and follow the surface.

Once gutters are clean use your garden hose to fill them up with water and watch for leaks. When the roof shingles do not extend past the metal drip edge the water will suck back on the metal drip edge this is called capillary action and run behind your gutters. You ll still have to clean the gutters and the mesh will make the job harder. 4 the gutter is too low allowing the water access to the back of the gutter.

Before you worry too much about a new roof i would look at the gutters. This can be frustrating and also creates a dangerous situation on porch steps during freez. 2 inadequate shingle overhang 3 improper offset of the starter strip creating a seam that allows the water to travel behind the drip edge and fascia onto the soffit.