For example, if your gutter is 30 feet (9.1 m) long, it's going to run from one end of the roof to the other. Paint nay wooden fascia boards with a water-resistant coating before you mount your gutters. Use a measuring tape to determine the length of the gutter. unlocking this expert answer. Allow the level to hang over the gutter. Barry also holds his MBA from John F. Kennedy University. Avoid aiming the tapered end toward regions with hose bibs, sidewalks, and electric meters. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 371,475 times. Use a temporary screw to affix one end in its approximate position. You want to remove it when you clean your gutters. … Remove the temporary screw as the gutter is supported. Genius, crafty ideas for accessorizing your Christmas tree, from our favorite bloggers. For gutters that run around corners, cut the appropriate angle—usually 45 degrees—at the applicable end. replacement? section from the box miter with a tin snips, and you've got yourself a custom slip joint. That’s not a problem with one of these compact, ultra-efficient units that heat water as you need it. Use needlenosed pliers to slightly crimp the elbow to fit into the downspout (as shown). How do I lift my long gutter when screwing it in? Screw a downspout elbow to the outlet tube protruding down from the gutter. With over ten years of experience, Barry specializes in a variety of carpentry projects. This article was co-authored by Barry Zakar. Since the gutter extends downward from the center to the left and right, this marks the start. Using 6 rivet screws, screw the connector to the gutter. Rotate the gutter upward until its back edge slips into the hooks at the top of the back of the brackets (as shown). Repeat this action for both sides of the downspout. When putting gutters on the roof, should they be placed right along the shingles? Use a plastic slip joint at the end of every 10-foot length, … Before you jump into a DIY gutter installation, consider hiring a professional to hang your new gutters properly.The folks at Harry Helmet have over 30 years of experience in this area, and they’ll install high-quality, seamless gutters … (If the gutter doesn't turn a corner, fasten an end cap to each end.). After connecting the cap with rivets, apply a bead of silicone glue along the seam to waterproof it. Secure the downspout outlet to the gutter with four pop rivets or screws. Luckily, removing and installing gutters is a fairly easy process, and doing it yourself can save you a lot of money. There are a wide variety of gutter materials, sizes, styles, and gauges. To install rain gutters, first you'll need to measure the length of the roof you're working with and then purchase that many feet of gutter material from a home improvement store. And if you're going to replace your gutters and downspouts, you may as well upgrade the entire look and performance of the rainwater system. A step-by-step guide to installing DIY gutters with corrugated downspouts and decorative cast-aluminum brackets. If you're having trouble mounting the gutters, remove them and then place them on again, making sure that the edge closest to the fascia is underneath the fascia bracket hook before you rotate it. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. When you buy your new gutter section, make sure you order either an inside or outside box miter at the same time. Measure the distance between these … Then, hold a second elbow against the corner of the house, in line with the first elbow. Cut gutter section to length with hacksaw and aviation snips, or with a 12-inch power miter saw fitted with a carbide-tipped finish blade (as shown). Measure and record the distance from the bottom of the fascia board to this nail. Last Updated: September 10, 2020 Cut 1/16″ outside of your traced line, then pre-drill 1/8″ holes in your outlet. If the gutter … Use heavy-duty wire snips for smaller cuts. Secure the downspout outlet to the gutter with four pop rivets or screws. Temporarily tack the center of a long gutter section or have a friend hold it in place while you secure the ends. You'll also need enough fascia brackets, which hold up the gutter, to place one every 32 inches along the roof. This is a very simple step - using special connectors, these sections will easily match up and then will just snap into the gutter sections. Tip: Aluminum gutters and brackets can be spray-painted to match — or contrast with — the house trim. Make a mark at the chalk line on every other rafter tail. Be sure the top of the gutter is slightly under the roofing so water can drain into them. "Gutterman's choice" gutter sealer or Geocel Pro gutter seal. Install … Tip: Locate screws or rivets in the sides of the gutter, never in the bottom. Copyright © 2020 This Old House Ventures, LLC. If the gutter run measures longer than 40 feet (12.2 m), it should be positioned to pitch down from the middle, aimed toward a downspout at each end. If the gutter continues around a corner, cut the appropriate angle (typically 45 degrees) on that end. With over ten years of experience, Barry specializes in a variety of carpentry projects. Barry Zakar is a professional handyman and the founder of Little Red Truck Home Services based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Barry also holds his MBA from John F. Kennedy University. See “Gutter Rain Barrel” Video Above for Demonstration. This article has been viewed 371,475 times. He is skilled at constructing decks, railings, fences, gates, and various pieces of furniture. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Without them, water would erode the soil around the foundation, splash dirt onto the siding and likely leak into the basement or crawlspace. That's why we enlisted Agustin Crookston, owner of Classic Gutter Systems in Kalamazoo, Michigan, to show how attractive gutters can be—and how easy to install. This article has been viewed 371,475 times. Every two feet, install hidden hangers on the back edge of the gutter to provide more support. The half-round gutter shown above will most likely have a gap, whereas square back gutters will fit fairly flush with house. First, install the gutter sections into the outlets, using the hangers to support the individual sections. Make sure that the nail is located high on the fascia so that the line you draw will not be obscured by the gutter. Secure the gutter to the bracket with a 1-inch-long #8-32 stainless steel machine screw and flanged nut. Here’s what you need to know about choosing, installing, and living with a tankless water heater. Connect the marks with a chalk line to create a guide for the top of the gutter. Secure it with eight pop rivets or sheet-metal screws. If I have a 50' length to install along my garage and backyard and I want to have 2 downspouts near my garage, one on each side rather than in the back, is it ok to pitch left to right instead of center? This is a huge concern and challenge with DIY gutters. Getting pitch correct is very challenging, and also extremely important. What can I do if the fascia is angled 90 degree to roof pitch? Open up and let the sun shine in. References. The dark-green aluminum gutters used here ($2.75 per linear foot, materials only) were attached to the fascia with cast-aluminum, closed-curl brackets ($8 each), which the homeowners spray-painted antique gold. Fasten fascia brackets with ¼-inch stainless steel lag screws long enough to penetrate rafters 2 inches (as shown). That sand comes off shingle roofs and will accumulate in your gutters. If it's rusted you'll trap the rust and it can spread from the screw to the panel. If the run requires two sections of gutter, overlap them by 8 inches and use a 3/8-inch-long, self-tapping, stainless steel screws or pop rivets, in two rows of four each, to join them. Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow, https://www.thisoldhouse.com/how-to/how-to-install-rain-gutter, https://www.thisoldhouse.com/how-to/how-to-install-rain-gutters, https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-snap-a-chalk-line/, https://www.familyhandyman.com/roof/gutter-repair/how-to-install-gutters/view-all/, http://www.technologystudent.com/equip_flsh/hacksw2.html, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Place the measuring tape on the downspout again but this time deducts 2½ inches away and mark the position. Both the connector and the gutter should not have any water on them. 16 July 2020. To screw through the metal, turn them slowly at first so they can catch. Follow your chalk line to attach the gutters with screws. It's a good idea to ask someone to help you install the gutters. That will decrease how often you have to clean them. One family’s goal in renovating their formerly dark, closed-off galley-style kitchen? If your rain gutters are old and starting to break down and not do its job correctly, then it is time to install a new one before the next rainfall leaves a small pond in your basement again. Attach a short length of downspout to the underside of the diverter. Should the back side of the gutter be flush with the house? Use a gutter piece with a pre-installed outlet to skip this step. Set two 2-inch-thick concrete pavers on the ground directly below the downspout outlet. Hang the gutter sections. The first line will be. With a bit of effort and the right tools, you can install your gutters without hiring a contractor. Repair any fascia rot or eave damage prior to installing gutters. Replace the screw with the next size up or seal and move over a 1/16th to 1/8th and screw down. All rights reserved. Tip: Use two downspout brackets on a one-story house and three brackets on a two-story house. Place the gutter face down on 2 scraps of wood for support while you chisel the starter hole. "As a novice handyman, guidelines like these are awesome tools to learn from.". With the gutter over scrap wood, start a V-shaped starter hole with a chisel and hammer. Gutter systems are important in preserving the foundation of your home. Each has its benefits and drawbacks, but choosing the wrong one can be a nightmare. Downspouts and gutters divert water away from the house when it rains, which prevents moisture from corroding the foundation. $2 to $6 per linear foot, average. Support wikiHow by Barry Zakar. Use a downspout outlet to mark the location of the downspout on the low end of the gutter. Use a putty knife to smooth the silicone and press it into the joint. At the high point of the gutter's run, hold a bracket and a section of gutter against the fascia, with the gutter's … To learn how to install the brackets, gutters, and downspout, keep reading! No. Once you have all of your supplies, start by attaching the downspout outlet and caps to the roof. Geocel is a caulk so you'll need a caulking gun. Set a rain barrel on top of the concrete pavers. This article was co-authored by Barry Zakar. To do this, turn the gutter upside down and place the outlet on top. Many gutter hangers come with long screws to go through your gutters and into the wood. Cut a 3-in. If you don’t know which gutter size works best for you, look up a gutter size calculator online. Raise the gutter to the chalk line and fasten each hanging bracket by screwing through the fascia and into the … It's not necessary, because often the facia of your home will run at a downward angle, and you want your gutters to be straight. Start by pushing the female end of a downspout elbow onto the first outlet fitting. The mounting brackets can also be snapped in on the ground. For instructions, scroll down to the end of this article. The Home Mender, Dustin Luby, shows us how to install new gutters with ease! If your roof is longer than 40 feet (12.2 m), mark the chalk line in the center of the fascia. At the ends of the gutters are 4-inch-diameter corrugated aluminum downspouts ($1.75 per linear foot), which were ordered in white to match the house trim. Buy 1 downspout for gutters less than 40 feet (12.2 m) and 2 for anything longer. Gutters come anywhere between 4–6 in (10–15 cm) wide. The pitch of your gutter is key to your gutter system … Apply seala… Bore a ⅛-inch-diameter pilot hole through the fascia and into the rafter tail at each mark. Rain gutters and downspouts are designed to divert and carry rainwater away from the foundation of your house, which helps maintain the integrity of its construction. From the ground, connect your gutter sections. Take the piece out and … Cover the joint between two lengths of gutter at each corner with a strip miter — a 3-inch-wide strip of aluminum. Gutter repair? At the square-cut end of the gutter, attach a spherical end cap with aluminum pop rivets. After attaching the chalk line, pull straight up from the middle and let the string snap. Hang the new gutter … Subtract 1/4-in. Hold another elbow against the house and cut a piece of downspout to fit between the two elbows. Install end caps at the ends of the gutter … A vinyl system is designed for the do-it-yourself homeowner who'd rather invest a little sweat equity into installing his own gutters … Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. For gutter runs longer than 40 feet, it's best to pitch the gutter down from the middle to a downspout at each end. Or you can slope the gutters down from each end toward a single downspout placed in the middle of the run. How would I install a rain gutter without a back stop? They prevent soil erosion, damage to siding, and basement leaks. Your hex head washer gasket should cover the seal hole for double protection. Step 1 Set The Pitch Photo by Matthew Benson. Should the back side of the gutter be flush with the house, or should I leave a gap? Gutterman's comes in a tube and can be applied when it's wet outside (try to wait for a break in the weather 30 minutes to an hour if you can) and it will dry while raining, but try to cover or wait for a break. It depends on the style of gutter and brackets you are using to attach it. Wrap the aluminum strip tight around the underside of the gutter. He is skilled at constructing decks, railings, fences, gates, and various pieces of furniture. Remove the temporary screw and replace it with a rivet. At the other end of the fascia (or at the downspout location if there's one in the middle of the run), mark the low end of the gutter run, keeping in mind that the slope should be approximately ½ inch for every 10 feet of run. There are 14 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Locate the rafter tails behind the fascia; they're typically spaced 16 inches on center (look for telltale nail heads). All the materials and accessories are readily available at home centers, lumberyards and through roofing-supply firms. After drilling in each screw, be sure to double-check the alignment of your gutter and ensure that it follows the chalk line. This joint can also be made more waterproof with the addition of a high-quality siliconized caulk. Shown: Kevin Lyons fits a downspout elbow to a copper gutter. Are rain gutters supposed to have sand in them? … (Over $20 for copper). Measure the length of the roof that you're working on. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Finally, mount the gutters to the brackets and attach them to the downspout. Gutters are most often installed by professionals, but there's no reason you can't do it yourself. To do this, hold the end cap in place temporarily with a single sheet-metal screw, then drill a 1/8-inch-diameter hole and install one pop rivet (above). Fit the gutters into the gutter hangers. 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