The above guide may seem simple, but there are many ways to make mistakes while installing new gutters. With that in mind, here are a few installation mistakes you should avoid when performing DIY gutter installation.
Working at a height presents many risks such as falling and slipping. Always have a friend, family member, or neighbor help you out. Your partner should be at the bottom of the ladder to hold it steady as you work to minimize the risk of falling.
Having a partner on the ground also helps in the event of an accident since someone can immediately call and get you proper medical attention. If you are unsure about what size of gutter to get, do not hesitate to consult a roofing contractor or at least an experienced sales representative at your local home improvement store. This may make gutters a little difficult to work with for DIY enthusiasts who have never worked with a gutter before.
As a result, there is a risk of accidentally damaging the gutter as you try to cut it. Sometimes, measurements can be off and you find yourself with a gutter that is too short. In such cases, work at a slow and steady pace to ensure you get the results you want.
Overall, installing gutters yourself can be a difficult process, one where many things can go wrong. Furthermore, improper installation can easily eat up into whatever money you were able to save by installing your gutters on your own. With all of this in mind, you may want to leave gutter installation to experienced contractors like Muller Exteriors. Your email address will not be published.
Financing now available for qualified customers. Mark Points of Downward Slope — Gutters may look like they are attached completely straight, but they are actually following a downward slope. Installation Mistakes to Avoid The above guide may seem simple, but there are many ways to make mistakes while installing new gutters.
Working Alone — As touched upon earlier, working alone is highly discouraged. Choosing the Wrong Size of Gutter — It may surprise you to know that gutters come in different sizes. There are 0 comments. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Recent Posts. Use a square and pencil to mark the gutter length and cut to the line. If the tin snips distorts the profile of the gutter, just bend it back into shape with needle-nose pliers.
Gutter material also can be cut with a chop saw or sabre saw, but be sure to wipe the steel filings from the painted surface. To fasten these components, you can use either short sheetmetal screws or Pop rivets. Rivets are more work, but they're more attractive and they don't leave sharp piunts inside the gutter.
When it bottoms out, squeeze the handle several times until the rivet flattens and the stem shears off. If the opposite end of this gutter terminates, install an end cap. Caps come in left and right profiles, and can be mechanically fastened with screws or rivets, or simply glued in place with gutter lap sealer.
We riveted the top front flange and used lap-seal caulk on the rest of the joint. Next, install a downspout outlet fitting in the gutter. Measure carefully to determine the best location for the outlet fitting.
Then, set the fitting on the bottom of the gutter and trace around it. Cut a starter hole in the gutter with a chisel, drill, or sabre saw and nibble out the finished opening with tin snips. Finally, insert the filling into the hole and fasten it with short screws. As an alternative to installing the outlet fittings, you can buy in.
With all the necessary fittings attached to this length of gutter, install a hanger bracket every 2 to 3 ft. Tip the hooked end of the bracket under the front flange and press the remaining end over the back fo the gutter.
With help, lift the gutter in place, and secure the corner first, screwing the bracket into the roof's fascia. Secure the rest of the hangers with 2-in galvanized nails or screws. And, a level gutter is the obvious answer when there's a downspout at both ends, such as on our hip roof. Longer gutters and larger roofs require more downspouts. As a general rule, install one downspout for every 30 ft. You have two options when it comes to splicing gutters end to end.
You can use a splice fitting, like those used on the inside corner, or you can overlap in the direction of the water flow. Both methods work, but we prefer to overlap. A slip coupling, no matter how ell attached, tends to work as a hinge, Overlapping keeps things straight and draws less attention. Begin by applying a heavy bead of lap sealer with a caulk gun at least 4 in. Run the bead up both sides. Then, set the new length of gutter into the installed length with about 5 in. Where the gutter wraps around an outside corner, first attach splice fittings to the corner piece with rivets, connect one splice to the preceding length of gutter apron.
Install the next length of gutter and fasten it in place with hidden brackets, and then rivet the splice connections. Continue in this fashion until you've installed all the necessary gutter and downspout outlets. Finally caulk all seams with a generous amount of gutter lap sealer.
All that remains now is to install the downspouts and downspout extensions. Start by pushing the female end of a downspout elbow onto the first outlet fitting. Then, hold a second elbow against the corner of the house, in line with the first elbow. Slide the short length of the downspout onto the bottom of the top elbow and slide the top of the lower elbow onto the short length.
Rivet all joints, including the connection with the outlet. Install two U-shaped downspout brackets on the corner of the house, one high and one low. Bring the downspout to within 1 ft.
Finally trim a notch in one end of a in. Just cut several inches from the top half and screw the extension to the elbow on each side. This arrangement delivers the water well away from the house, but allows you to tip up the extensions when mowing your lawn. Thanks for sharing!!
I am working on roof repair and gutter installation business, yet I got some bonus tips after visiting here. Reply 8 years ago on Introduction.
Introduction: How to Install Gutters. By Popular Mechanics Follow. More by the author:. More About Popular Mechanics ».
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