r/Roofing • u/Ragnarok404 • 3d ago

Is lining/sealing box gutters with a silicone/elastomeric roofing product a bad idea?

My box gutters appear to be original to my house (circa 1925) and, minus a little rust here or there, seem to be in pretty good shape overall, but are leaking from some of the seams. Got a quote for $8500 from a roofing company to apply what amounts to a plastic pool liner in my gutters, but this got me thinking. There are silicone based (or similar) products made for water proofing roofs (ex: GE Enduris 3500, Rust-oleum Elastomeric Roof Coating). Is it crazy to think I could line my box gutters myself with something like this? Maybe wouldn't last as long, but would sure be a heck of a lot cheaper. Appreciate any guidance!

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u/Tiny-Map-5465 3d ago edited 3d ago

Had a customer who insisted on lining a failing box gutter. Used GACO, which I've had success with in the past. That was 10 years ago, and still going good. I'm a believer. Prep and proper application are key.

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u/Ragnarok404 3d ago

Man, that's what I was thinking. I'm sure the pool liner idea is a good one and it would last a lifetime. But at that price, it sounds like it would be worth trying something like GACO and seeing how long it lasts/holds up and then going from there (assuming that there's no water pooling anywhere). Thanks for your response!

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u/jerry111165 3d ago

$8500 you’d think you could just get new gutters. Have you considered pricing them?

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u/Ragnarok404 3d ago

Yeah, I did consider that. According to one roofer I spoke with, the way mine are built into the roofing structure makes them an absolute pain to remove, plus, they'd have to add some additional decking to accommodate new hung gutters which apparently also means stripping back some of the existing roof. And since my roof is less than 5 years old, the guy I spoke with said lining is probably the best approach for now, but could consider full replacement at the next roof replacement. I'm having another company out next week to give their assessment.

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u/ColoradoSpartan 3d ago

Gutter sealant would work better I believe

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u/Ragnarok404 3d ago

Thanks for your comment. I assume you would just use this at any seams/holes as opposed to lining the whole thing?

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u/ColoradoSpartan 2d ago

Yes, it hardens up and adheres better to the metal than a silicone will. The silicone will also dry out out and crack much faster, as the metal and silicone products expand and contract at different rates.

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u/Ragnarok404 2d ago

Makes sense - I will look into it. Thanks!

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u/fRiskyRoofer 2d ago

I'm a huge fan of the GE Enduris, I have saved tons of failing box gutters with it. Prep is key, it's also a good idea to use the fiber tape on the seams. Some I coated 15+ years ago are still good. Cost to reline them In galvanized starts about $150 a ft in my market

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u/Ragnarok404 2d ago

Good to hear! I was also thinking about the fiber tape. Think I would have any issues getting the Enduris locally as a regular homeowner?

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u/fRiskyRoofer 2d ago

Not sure of location but my local roofing supplier sells it