Everyone who owns a home will need to install or replace gutters at some point. It’s a home maintenance task that protects a house from water damage. While it may seem daunting, you can easily tackle this project with the right tools and knowledge. This guide will walk you through the gutter installation and replacement process, from planning to maintenance.
Signs You Need To Replace Your Gutters
In some cases, gutter repair costs are as high as the cost of replacing them. There are a few things that signal your gutters need replacing:
- Cracks: If your gutters are cracking, they have likely experienced too much water damage and are ready for replacement.
- Water damage:Â Water damage on your home or rotting wood means the gutters are not functioning the way they should.
- Seam stress:Â When seamless gutters and traditional gutters start to deteriorate, they break at the seams.
- Mildew discoloration:Â While most gutters are made of materials that won’t mold, rust, or rot, mildew discoloration is a sign it’s time for replacement.
Planning for Gutter Replacement or Installation
Before you start your gutter replacement or installation project, there are a few preliminary steps to take. Gutter replacement is complex and requires choosing the proper materials and preparing your workspace. Also, decide on the path water will take from the roof to the ground.
Consider Different Gutter Sizes, Materials, and Styles
Choose from several different gutter materials, ranging from vinyl to copper. Each type of gutter has different associated costs. In addition to materials, consider gutter styles, including half-round or K-style gutters.
Gather Tools and Components
Here are some tools and components you will need to start your gutter installation or replacement project. Decide if you’ll need gutters around your entire home or just parts of it. Remember that the size of your home and the type of gutter you choose will impact how much you need of each component.
- Aviation snips
- Hacksaw
- Pop rivet gun
- Cordless drill
- 24 to 28-foot ladder (to reach the roof of a two-story home)
- Socket set
- Miter saw
- Chalk
- 4-inch hole saw bit
- Tape measure
- Silicone glue
- Caulking gun
- Gutter (usually 5 inches wide)
- Downspout lengths (typically 3″ x 4″ or 2″ x 3″)
- End caps
- Corner joints
- Hanging brackets
- Downspout brackets
- Pop rivets or self-tapping screws
- 1-inch machine or sheet metal screws (¼ inch)
- ¼ inch lag screws (at least 2.5 inches long)
Remember that when removing old gutters from your home, you also need a way to dispose of them. Check with your local garbage collection services to see what they recommend.
Replacing Your Gutters Step-by-Step
Follow these steps for a proper gutter installation that will protect your home and hold up over time.
1. Inspect Current Gutters for Style, Fit, and Damage
Finding the best gutter for your home involves looking at the different styles and fits. Look at your current gutter system and see if there are issues or inefficiencies.
Look for damage, and try to understand why it’s happening. Gutters could have issues with the installation angle or the materials used in your climate. Analyze the functionality of your current system so you know what is working and what isn’t. As part of this process, look into some of the best gutter guards for your new gutters. Gutter guards will significantly increase the longevity of your gutter system.
2. Browse and Select New Gutters, Hangers, and Gutter Flashing
Estimate your material needs by measuring around your home’s outer perimeter.
Note that gutter and downspout sections typically come in 10-foot lengths. Plan for 6–8 inches of overlap at each joint. For instance, if you need to install a 20-foot gutter section on one side of your home, two 10-foot lengths of material won’t be enough.
The same principle applies to downspouts, which will need 4–6 pop rivets and ⅛ of a tube of silicone glue. Each corner of your gutter system will require 6-8 pop rivets and ¼ to ⅓ of a tube of silicone glue.
3. Measure and Cut New Gutters To Fit Your Roof
This step will require the most attention to detail. Measure exactly how many linear feet of gutter you need while accounting for overlap and required excess material on your corners (at least 6 inches per end, per corner). Using your miter saw, cut your lengths of gutter to size.
- For all corner pieces, cut at a 45-degree angle at the very end of the section. The side of the corner joint touching the fascia should be flush, but a little daylight on the outer side of the corner joint is all right.
- Different pieces of gutter should overlap by eight inches. Measure accordingly and mark joining points for each section.
- If you have to join sections of aluminum gutter downspouts, use pliers to crimp the upper section inwards. Slide the lower section onto the crimped portion. Use self-tapping screws or rivets to join your sections.
- Adhere your downspout elbows to the bottom of each section. If you’re using vinyl or PVC instead of aluminum or steel, you’ll need to buy downspout connectors separately. These are readily available at hardware and home improvement stores.
4. Attach the Gutters Together and Caulk
Before putting your gutters on the home, attach them together and caulk. When attaching the gutters, overlap them by at least four inches. Also, make sure that wherever visible, the factory cut edge stands out. Cut each gutter section to extend an inch past the fascia board to help catch water from overhanging shingles. Most rooflines will have this, so pay attention to the positioning of the gutters.
Use a caulk designed for gutter installation and follow all specifics and directions.
5. Mark, Cut, and Rivet the Downspout Holes
Before putting the gutters up on your home, you have to mark, cut, and rivet the downspout holes.
Double-check your measurements and make sure that there aren’t any obstructions making it impossible to place the downspout. Then:
- Mark the center of your downspout on the bottom edge of the gutter.
- Place your downspout outlet on the gutter and trace around the inside edge.
- Use a chisel and tin snaps to carefully create the downspout holes.
6. Carefully Remove Current Gutters
Now that all your gutter prep work is complete, it’s time to remove your old gutters from your home. Most of the time, the fasteners and any brackets should also come down. These will come off quite easily if your current gutters are in bad condition.
From speaking with gutter installation companies, we know that moving methodically through the gutter removal process will pay off. Ripping old gutters off the home can cause issues with the fascia board.
7. Mark the Gutter Slope on the Fascia Board
Mark your gutter line on your fascia boards. Check your fascia for any damage or rot before installing new gutters.
When lining up your gutters:
- Mark the high point of your gutter 1¼ inch below the low edge of your flashing.
- Your high point should be the furthest point from any downspouts.
- Mark your downslope with a chalk line a ½-inch down for every 10 feet of a run until you reach a planned downspout point.
- Mark each rafter’s tail with your chalk. This will be where hangers attach to your fascia board.
8. Screw Gutters to Roof Fascia Board
Now that you’ve cut your downspout holes and solidly attached your gutter sections, you can begin hanging your gutters onto your brackets:
- Place each section of gutter against your brackets and tilt them upward until the hooks at the back can securely grab your brackets. Once in position, prepare to drill pilot holes in your gutter.
- Bear in mind that this will be a time-consuming endeavor for longer sections of the gutter. Take your time to hang them adequately.
- The inner edge of each corner joint should be flush.
- Drill â…›-inch pilot holes into your brackets through your gutter.
- Drill your 1-inch machine screws into the brackets and fascia, securing your gutters in place.
- Use silicone glue around your screw holes to fully seal them.
9. Attach Gutter Flashing
Gutter flashing keeps water from flowing behind your gutters and decreases the chance of experiencing water damage to the house. Slide the flashing under the shingles and roofing paper of the home.
You may encounter nails and staples that prevent you from sliding the flashing far enough under the roofing paper and shingles. If this happens, push the flashing under the first row of shingles. Secure the flashing with 1-inch roofing nails.
Overlap the flashing so there aren’t any areas where water can fall through.
10. Strengthen Gutters With Hidden Gutter Hangers
Once you hang your gutters on your home, you can easily install hidden gutter hangers. We recommend installing hangers every 2 feet to provide long-term stability. The hidden hangers will help during heavy rainfall.
When you install hidden gutter hangers, be careful not to lean on the newly installed gutters, avoid putting pressure on the drill, and hang the gutter hangers level.
11. Assemble and Attach Downspout Elbows
The ends of the gutter sections will each have an end cap affixed with either pop rivets or self-tapping screws. You’ll need four of whichever one you’ve selected to use. Use your silicone glue to seal around the edges and around the rivet or screw holes.
Join sections with silicone glue and with rivets or screws. Use gutter sealant for any non-seamless gutters. This will reduce future maintenance costs.
Should You DIY or Hire a Gutter Installation Professional?
Now that you have all the information necessary for how to install gutters or replace them, you may be wondering if professional gutter installation companies are a better solution. This decision comes down to your budget and time.
The more money you have to spend, the easier it is to justify the costs of a professional gutter installation. Gutter installation is a bit different than other home improvement projects, and it takes a lot of your time. If you don’t have several days to invest in this project, you may want to hire a professional.
Professional Gutter Replacement and Installation
LeafFilter is the best choice for a professional gutter installation company. LeafFilter comes to your home and gives you a free quote. They also include the LeafFilter gutter guards. These stainless steel micromesh guards are the best in the industry and will make sure your gutters never get clogged.
Here are a few of the reasons you may want to choose LeafFilter:
- Ladder safety: A gutter contractor is confident standing on a ladder, especially for homes with more than one story.
- Tools: Installing your gutters takes quite a bit of equipment and tools, and with professional gutter installation, you can avoid these additional expenses.
- Skills: If you are not a home improvement expert, expect to have some trouble with this project. Also, choosing between steel gutters, copper gutters, or vinyl gutters takes a bit of thought and consideration.
- Warranty: Professionally installed gutters will have a warranty, typically for twenty years or more. A DIY installation may have a short warranty on materials but not installation.
DIY Gutter Replacement and Installation
Installing gutters can be a DIY project, but it is best to have some home improvement project experience. In addition to awareness of how the gutter system works, you have to do some knowledgeable planning, as some angles and slopes involved in a gutter installation take some time to figure out.
How Often Should You Replace House Gutters?
Replace your house gutters anywhere from 20 to 50 years after their original installation. The original installation quality and the gutter material used determine the interval between replacements. Regions with frequent rainfall will require more frequent gutter replacements.
Maintaining Your New Gutters
Regular maintenance not only prolongs the life of the gutters but also protects your home from water damage. This includes:
- Cleaning gutters at least twice a year
- Inspecting for damage after severe weather
- Considering gutter guards to reduce debris accumulation
Use mildew or bleach spray on your gutters occasionally to remove any streaking in areas where water spills over the edge. Protect any landscaping on the ground during this process.
Seasonal Maintenance Tips
Proper staggering of maintenance tasks throughout the year keeps the gutter system in peak condition. This involves inspecting gutters in the spring to remove any accumulated winter debris, whereas fall maintenance focuses on clearing leaves and preparing for the winter months ahead.
Adding Gutter Guards
Gutter guards are a beneficial addition to any gutter system. They help reduce debris buildup, making maintenance easier and less frequent. There are various types of gutter guards, including mesh, reverse curve, and bottle brush, each with its advantages. Selecting the right guard depends on local foliage and climate conditions.
One of the best ways to maintain your gutters is to install a product like LeafFilter. When looking at the overall cost of gutter installation, consider the cost of LeafFilter. LeafFilter will give you a free quote for their gutter guard solutions and eliminate all clogs that gutters are known to get from leaves, pine needles, animals, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I replace gutters myself?
Yes, if you want to save money on gutter installation costs, DIY gutter installation is the way to go. While DIY installation can be cost-effective, consider your own skill level and available time.
Should I screw or nail in gutters?
Whether you use nails or screws will depend on the climate you live in. Nails are a popular, cheap option in warmer climates.
Does replacing gutters add value to a home?
While gutters may not directly increase your home’s value, maintaining them makes sure your property remains well-kept and protected. This helps safeguard your investment and makes your home more appealing to potential buyers.
