How Can I Prevent Plastic Guttering Separating In Warm Weather?

[Sellergarth]

I recently replaced one of the rubber seals at the joint of two sections of plastic guttering after the original one perished. I could not get one exactly the same but it did seem to make a secure, tight fit ...... that was until the sun shone on the guttering and one section contracted? leaving a gap between the two sections. This has happened several times over recent weeks and each time after I have secured the two sections I am unable to pull them apart yet after a few hours of sunshine one sections `moves` away from the other! It`s driving me nuts! Any advice/suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[melv16]

I've used silicon sealant on leaky joints with success.

[Sellergarth]

Thanks melv16, think I`ll give it a try.

[The Builder]

Plastic guttering creaks and groans during warm weather as it expands and contracts. If each section is long enough, it should never contract so much that it separates.

The best way out of your problem is to put in a longer length somewhere. That's all that should be needed.

[alavahalf]

Was propably badly cut in the first place. It sounds as though the gutter was cut too short or not quite square where it rests in the joint. You will find that if there is movement ( which you have), it will be almost impossible to clean the joint and expect the silicone to hold it as you will only have a few mm overlap.
Idealy as guttering is so cheap it would be nice to replace the whole lot. But in the past when I have had this problem, if money has been an issue where a customer was involved, I have usualy solved it fairly simply and cheaply.
Clean up the joint area thouroughly as well as 75mm of the inside of the gutter on either side of the joint and re-assemble it in place with the clips in place.
Get a 2 mm drill bit and drill through the centre of the overlap. Fit a small stainless self tapper straight through the gutter from the inside pointing out. It may protrude a little but that will hold the joint together.
Now the important bit. Get some 150mm flashband and fit it inside the gutter overlaping the joint by 75mm on either side. It will stick like the preverbial to the clean surface, so dont get it wrong.
The clean dry surfaces are the key to success with this method.

[Sellergarth]

Thanks all for taking the time to reply it`s appreciated.