That will decrease how often you have to clean them. Measure the length of the roof that you're working on. Make sure that the nail is located high on the fascia so that the line you draw will not be obscured by 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 … Place the measuring tape on the downspout again but this time deducts 2½ inches away and mark the position. Follow your chalk line to attach the gutters with screws. Gutter systems are important in preserving the foundation of your home. The pitch of your gutter is key to your gutter system … We use cookies to make wikiHow great. All rights reserved. Shown: Kevin Lyons fits a downspout elbow to a copper gutter. Install … Getting pitch correct is very challenging, and also extremely important. This article was co-authored by Barry Zakar. Gutter repair? Although, installing rain gutters … Rain gutters should be attached to the fascia and run the entire length of the roof, ending with a downspout. Hang the gutter sections. Locate the rafter tails behind the fascia; they're typically spaced 16 inches on center (look for telltale nail heads). If your roof is longer than 40 feet (12.2 m), mark the chalk line in the center of the fascia. Not if you opt to install vinyl rain gutters. You want to remove it when you clean your gutters. Installing rain gutters my seem like a daunting task but it doesn't have to be. Barry Zakar. Here is a quick guide on how to install new gutters … One half of the seam can be on the ground before you hang each piece. Hold another elbow against the house and cut a piece of downspout to fit between the two elbows. Access the fascia—the flat, vertical board on which the gutter will be mounted. Every two feet, install hidden hangers on the back edge of the gutter to provide more support. Connect the diverter’s flexible hose to the port on the side of the rain barrel. No. Replace the screw with the next size up or seal and move over a 1/16th to 1/8th and screw down. "As a novice handyman, guidelines like these are awesome tools to learn from.". Whether you obtain your measurements from a ladder or the top of the roof, exercise caution: do not lean without support, place a ladder on uneven ground, or wear shoes without adequate traction. Each has its benefits and drawbacks, but choosing the wrong one can be a nightmare. Paint nay wooden fascia boards with a water-resistant coating before you mount your gutters. Fasten fascia brackets with ¼-inch stainless steel lag screws long enough to penetrate rafters 2 inches (as shown). References. Many homeowners nurse their battered, leaky gutters along because they just don't see the reward of new gutters outweighing the effort required to replace them. Review the manufacturer's recommendations for your type of gutter. To learn how to install the brackets, gutters, and downspout, keep reading! If the gutter continues around a corner, cut the appropriate angle (typically 45 degrees) on that end. Bore a ⅛-inch-diameter pilot hole through the fascia and into the rafter tail at each mark. Remove the temporary screw as the gutter is supported. Gutter covers help prevent debris from entering your gutters in the first place, and this reduces the amount of cleaning that you need to do. Use a plastic slip joint at the end of every 10-foot length, … Buy 1 downspout for gutters less than 40 feet (12.2 m) and 2 for anything longer. 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? Set two 2-inch-thick concrete pavers on the ground directly below the downspout outlet. Placing the measuring tape on the downspout, make a mark with permanent marker on both ends. Complete hole by cutting with tin snips. (You can also use a hammer and cold chisel to cut the hole.). below the shingles on the high side of the gutter run. Allow the level to hang over the gutter. Measure and record the distance from the bottom of the fascia board to this nail. Genius, crafty ideas for accessorizing your Christmas tree, from our favorite bloggers. Secure the gutter to the bracket with a 1-inch-long #8-32 stainless steel machine screw and flanged nut. Hold another elbow against the house and cut a piece of downspout to fit between the two elbows. Step 5 - Hang the Gutters. Barry also holds his MBA from John F. Kennedy University. You can cut clockwise or counterclockwise—whichever you are most comfortable with. Start by pushing the female end of a downspout elbow onto the first outlet fitting. Open up and let the sun shine in. Using 6 rivet screws, screw the connector to the gutter. This article was co-authored by Barry Zakar. Test the newly installed gutters for leaks and proper water diversion by running a garden hose at the highest point. 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. "Gutterman's choice" gutter sealer or Geocel Pro gutter seal. Without them, water would erode the soil around the foundation, splash dirt onto the siding and likely leak into the basement or crawlspace. With a bit of effort and the right tools, you can install your gutters without hiring a contractor. Tired of running out of hot water? 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. With the gutter over scrap wood, start a V-shaped starter hole with a chisel and hammer. Use blue and white chalk lines—red can bleed through the paint onto your fascia. First, install the gutter sections into the outlets, using the hangers to support the individual sections. Support wikiHow by Should the back side of the gutter be flush with the house? Measure the distance between these … Mark the highest point of the gutter run on the fascia 1 ¼ inches below the metal drip-edge flashing (on the extra-wide fascia shown here, the gutter is lower down). Get the latest This Old House news, trusted tips, tricks, and DIY Smarts projects from our experts–straight to your inbox. Long gutters can be difficult for one person to maneuver alone. This stuff is amazing for metal, including metal roof screw penetrations that need to be covered, or around a screw that is not rusted. At the high point of the gutter's run, hold a bracket and a section of gutter against the fascia, with the gutter's … The Home Mender, Dustin Luby, shows us how to install new gutters with ease! Here’s what you need to know about choosing, installing, and living with a tankless water heater. This means you will mark 3 chalk lines along the fascia, with the final one marking the end-point of the gutter run. 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. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Use a different color than the chalk line to help you distinguish them. Join a 3–4 in (7.6–10.2 cm) PVC pipe to your downspout to divert rainwater into the ground if you want to get it further away from your home. … Fit the gutters into the gutter hangers. Apply sealant around the mouth of the connector and raise it to the gutter. He is skilled at constructing decks, railings, fences, gates, and various pieces of furniture. Then, hold a second elbow against the corner of the house, in line with the first elbow. Then, cut the gutters to size and attach the fascia brackets to the rafter tails. After drilling in each screw, be sure to double-check the alignment of your gutter and ensure that it follows the chalk line. When you buy your new gutter section, make sure you order either an inside or outside box miter at the same time. Avoid aiming the tapered end toward regions with hose bibs, sidewalks, and electric meters. Cut 1/16″ outside of your traced line, then pre-drill 1/8″ holes in your outlet. By using our site, you agree to our. Copyright © 2020 This Old House Ventures, LLC. Should the back side of the gutter be flush with the house, or should I leave a gap? When putting gutters on the roof, should they be placed right along the shingles? If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Insert leaf guards to help prevent gutter clogging if your house or office is located on a densely wooded lot. section from the box miter with a tin snips, and you've got yourself a custom slip joint. Subtract 1/4-in. Gutters come anywhere between 4–6 in (10–15 cm) wide. To learn how to install the brackets, gutters, and downspout, keep reading! Use a gutter piece with a pre-installed outlet to skip this step. To ensure a watertight joint, seal the rivets and the end-cap seam on the inside of the gutter with a high-quality siliconized caulk. If it's rusted you'll trap the rust and it can spread from the screw to the panel. (If the gutter doesn't turn a corner, fasten an end cap to each end.). 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. Drill a ¼-inch-diameter hole through the center of the circular outline. For gutters that run around corners, cut the appropriate angle—usually 45 degrees—at the applicable end. Use needlenosed pliers to slightly crimp the elbow to fit into the downspout (as shown). For instructions, scroll down to the end of this article. Use a putty knife to smooth the silicone and press it into the joint. Insert the downspout outlet and drill holes for rivets. 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. $2 to $6 per linear foot, average. Step 1 Set The Pitch Photo by Matthew Benson. Luckily, removing and installing gutters is a fairly easy process, and doing it yourself can save you a lot of money. Lay the gutter into the brackets that you've lag-screwed to the fascia. Secure it with eight pop rivets or sheet-metal screws. Many gutter hangers come with long screws to go through your gutters and into the wood. Step 6 - Attach Downspouts and Outlets. Remove the temporary screw and replace it with a rivet. Use a temporary screw to affix one end in its approximate position. After mounting, overlap your drip edge by hand so that it hangs inside the gutter. If the gutter … For gutter runs longer than 40 feet, it's best to pitch the gutter down from the middle to a downspout at each end. Attach the chalk snap line to the … You'll also need enough fascia brackets, which hold up the gutter, to place one every 32 inches along the roof. Set a rain barrel on top of the concrete pavers. One family’s goal in renovating their formerly dark, closed-off galley-style kitchen? The half-round gutter shown above will most likely have a gap, whereas square back gutters will fit fairly flush with house. It's a good idea to ask someone to help you install the gutters. Turn the gutter over and cut the downspout hole using a 4-inch-diameter hole saw chucked into a drill (as shown). wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. How do I lift my long gutter when screwing it in? 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. With over ten years of experience, Barry specializes in a variety of carpentry projects. Lift the starting end and begin attaching the gutter. To ensure that gutters drain properly, make certain they slope (½ inch for every 10 feet) toward a downspout. 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. Standard residential homes typically use K style aluminum gutters, 5 or 6 inches wide from side t… Install a diverter in the downspout, positioning it even with the top of the rain barrel. 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). Start by resting a level on the roof near the high point of the gutter. Barry Zakar is a professional handyman and the founder of Little Red Truck Home Services based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Piercing the drip edge will cause water issues, ultimately resulting in rotting out your face board. Geocel is a caulk so you'll need a caulking gun. 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. This is a huge concern and challenge with DIY gutters. Screw a downspout elbow to the outlet tube protruding down from the gutter. Consider installing gutter guards to keep debris out of your gutters. Choose the most durable material you can afford, and talk with your contractor or hardware store about roof shingle size and what width of gutter is right for your house. You can do it! If you need a variety of tools to complete a DIY project, read our review of the best power tool sets on Amazon to find one that’s right for you. There are a wide variety of gutter materials, sizes, styles, and gauges. If you don’t know which gutter size works best for you, look up a gutter size calculator online. Reproduction gutters, 5 or 6 inches wide from side t… Hang the gutter, positioning it even the. 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