By Monster Gutters, licensed roof plumber (lic. 108490) · Updated October 2026
1. Rust spots and holes
Steel gutters rust from the inside out, usually at joins, corners and outlets where water and leaves sit longest. Surface rust spots are an early warning. Holes you can see daylight through mean the steel is finished.
2. Water pouring over the front
Some overflow in a summer downpour is normal. Water sheeting over the front edge in ordinary rain points to blocked outlets, too few downpipes, or gutters that have lost their fall.
3. Sagging or pulling away
Gutters should run in a straight line with a slight fall to each outlet. Dips, sags or gaps between the gutter and the fascia mean the brackets have failed or the fascia behind them is rotting.
4. Water stains and peeling paint
Dark streaks on brickwork, stains on the eaves lining, or paint peeling on the fascia are all signs water is getting behind or over the gutter instead of into it.
5. Puddles along the house
Pooling water, washed-out garden beds or soggy ground along the walls after rain means water isn't getting into the downpipes and stormwater. Over time that can affect footings, especially on reactive clay soils.
6. Leaking joins
If water drips from the same join every time it rains, the sealant has failed. One join can be resealed. Leaks at several joins usually mean the whole run is near the end of its life.
7. They're as old as the house
Gutters on homes built before the 1990s are often original. Even if they look fine from the street, the inside of the gutter is usually much worse than the outside.
Repair or replace?
If the problem is one leaking join or one loose bracket and the rest of the steel is sound, a repair makes sense. If you're seeing rust along the length, several leaks, or more than two of the signs above, replacement is usually the better value. We'll give you both prices if you're unsure.
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Related services
Gutter replacement
Old quad, half-round or rusted gutters removed and replaced with new Colorbond, set to the right fall so water runs to the outlets.
Repairs
Leaking joins, loose brackets, overflowing outlets and damaged downpipes fixed by a licensed roof plumber.
Downpipes
New downpipes, rainheads and outlets in a colour to suit your gutters, with secure brackets and sealed joins.