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About This Project
Almost all home centers and full-service hardware stores sell gutter systems that are designed primarily for easy installation. But with just a little bit more work, you can use these same parts to put together gutters and downspouts that are stronger and better looking too. We’ll show you how to minimize joints; assemble strong, sleek-looking seams; and add roof flashing to keep water flowing into the gutters where it belongs, all with off-the-shelf metal gutter parts.
If you’re comfortable with basic hand tools, assembling and installing gutters shouldn’t present any great challenge, but the job isn’t for everyone. It requires that you know how to safely work from ladders (good balance and staying within your reach) and are comfortable doing it. Rent scaffolding for second-floor gutter work because it’s much more stable than a ladder.
Planning the project
Evaluate And Plan The Project
Installing your own gutters can save you as much as $5 per linear foot over professionally installed gutters, but there
are a few pitfalls to watch out for. Inspect the fascia and soffit for signs of rotted wood, which will need to be replaced before you put up the gutters. Many houses have a trim board or crown molding nailed to the fascia just under the shingles. You’ll have to either remove this as we did or add a continuous strip of wood under it to create a flat plane for the gutters. In either case, prime and paint bare wood before you hang the gutters.
Draw A Sketch And Measure Your House
Fig. A shows an example of a gutter system for a typical house. Record the length of the gutter runs and mark the downspout locations. Then count up the inside and outside corners and end caps (note whether they are right or left ends). Measure the
height of downspouts and add 4 ft. to each for the extension away from the house at the bottom. Each downspout requires three elbows. There are two types of elbows that turn either to the front or side of the downspout. Most installations require only front elbows, but occasionally you may need a side elbow, usually to turn the downspout extension sideways.
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