Effective gutter systems provide proper water drainage from your roof. They prevent potential damage to your home’s foundation, siding, and landscaping.
A functional gutter system is essential for protecting your home’s structural integrity and maintaining its value. You might be considering replacing your existing gutters or installing entirely new ones.
Whether you’re experienced in DIY projects or contemplating professional installation, understanding the required steps will help you make informed decisions and achieve your desired outcomes with your gutter system.
In this article, I’ll examine the process — from preparation to installation — so you have the information you need to replace or install your gutters.
Signs You Need To Replace Your Gutters
Look for a few key signs that indicate it’s time to replace your rain gutters. In some cases, gutter repair costs can be as high as the cost of replacing them.
- Cracks: If your gutters are cracking, they have likely experienced too much water damage and are ready for replacement.
- Water damage: Water damage on your home or rotting wood will tell you that the gutters are not functioning the way they should
- Seam Stress: When seamless gutters and traditional gutters start to deteriorate, they will break at the seams
- Mildew discoloration: Most gutters are made with materials that will not mold, rust, or rot. Some older vinyl or aluminum gutters do have a lifespan.
Planning for Gutter Replacement or Installation
Before you start your gutter replacement or installation project, there are a few preliminary steps that you must take. As far as home improvement projects are concerned, gutter replacement is a bit involved and requires choosing the proper materials and preparing your workspace.
Consider Different Gutter Sizes, Materials, and Styles
Homeowners can 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.
Here is a full guide to the different types of gutters you can choose from.
Gather Tools and Components
Here are some of the most important tools and components you will need to start your gutter installation or replacement project. You’ll need to know if you’ll need gutters around the whole house or just parts of it. Remember that the size of your home and the type of gutter you choose will impact the quantity of each component.
- Aviation snips
- Hacksaw
- Pop rivet gun
- Cordless drill
- 24′ – 28′ ladder (28-foot ladders can reach the roofs of most two-story homes)
- Socket set
- Miter saw
- Chalk
- 4-inch hole saw a bit
- Tape measure
- Silicone glue and a 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 (1/4 inch)
- ¼ inch lag screws (at least 2.5 inches long)
13 Steps for Replacing Gutters
You need to follow the proper steps when Installing gutters yourself. Makes sure the gutter system diverts rainwater away from your home, preventing potential water damage to the foundation, siding, and landscaping. Proper gutter installation protects their durability, reducing the need for repairs or replacements. DIY installation allows you to customize the gutter system according to your home’s layout. It can be cost-effective, saving you money on installation fees.
Follow this step-by-step guide to complete your DIY gutter installation or replacement effectively.
1. Inspect Current Gutters for Style, Fit, and Any Damages
Finding the best gutter for your home involves looking at the different styles and fit that may work for your home. Take a look at the current gutter system and see if there are issues that are not working for your home.
Look for damage, and try to understand why that is happening. Gutters could have issues with the angle they are installed at or the materials used in the climate. It’s good to analyze the functionality of your current system, so you know what is working and what is not working. As part of this process, it also makes sense to 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, Gutter Flashing, Etc.
This step is straightforward yet crucial to execute correctly. You can estimate your material needs by measuring or pacing around your home’s outer perimeter.
Note that gutter and downspout sections typically come in ten-foot lengths. Plan for six to eight inches of overlap at each joint. For instance, if you need to install a 20-foot section of gutter on one side of your home, two ten-foot lengths of material will be insufficient. The same principle applies to downspouts.
- 4–6 pop rivets
- â…› of a tube of silicone glue
Each corner of your gutter system will require:
- 6-8 pop rivets
- ¼ to ⅓ of a tube of silicone glue
3. Gather Necessary Tools and Equipment
See our list above of the necessary tools and equipment you will need for your gutter replacement or installation. Keep in mind that when removing old gutters from your home, you will also need a way to dispose of these gutters. Check with your local garbage collection services to see what they recommend as the best way to dispose.
4. Measure and Cut New Gutters To Fit Your Roof
This step will require the most attention to detail. Measure out exactly how many linear feet of gutter you need while accounting for overlap and excess material needed on your corners (at least six 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 will have to 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, then you’ll need to buy downspout connectors separately. These are readily available at hardware and home improvement stores.
5. Attach the Gutters Together and Caulk
Before putting your gutters up on the home, you will need to attach them together and caulk. When attaching the gutters together, overlap at least four inches. Also, make sure that wherever visible, the factor cut edge is standing 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 to make sure the gutters stay together for years. Homeowners often complain that old gutters’ seams start to fall apart.
6. Mark, Cut, and Rivet the Downspout Holes
Before putting the gutters up on the home, you will need to mark, cut, and rivet the downspout holes. When you did your gutter planning, the route and path that water takes from the roof to the ground should have been carefully considered.
Double-check your measurements and make sure that there are no obstructions that would make it impossible to place the downspout. Then follow this process:
- 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
7. Carefully Remove Current Gutters
Now that all of your gutter prep work is complete, it’s time to carefully remove your old gutters from your home. Most of the time, the fasteners and any brackets should also come down. Chances are, these will come off quite easily if your current gutters are in bad condition.
From experience and speaking with gutter installation companies we can tell you that moving methodically through the gutter removal process will pay off. Ripping old gutters off the home can cause issues with the fascia board.
8. Mark the Gutter Slope on the Fascia Board
Once you’ve measured your home and purchased the necessary materials, you’ll be ready to begin actual preparations for your gutter installation. The first step is to 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, do the following:
- Mark the high point of your gutter 1 ¼ 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 half-inch down for every ten feet of a run until you reach a planned downspout point.
- Mark each rafter’s tail with your chalk. This will be where your hangers attach to your fascia board.
9. Screw Gutters to Roof Fascia Board
Now that your downspout holes are cut, and your gutter sections are solidly together, you can begin hanging your gutters onto your brackets.
- Place each section of gutter against your brackets and tilt them upwards 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 make sure that they’re adequately hung.
- Make sure that the inner edge of each corner joint is flush.
- Drill 1/8-inch pilot holes into your brackets through your gutter.
- Drill your one-inch machine screws into the brackets and fascia, securing your gutters in place.
- Use silicone glue around your screw holes to make sure they’re fully sealed.
10. Attach Gutter Flashing
Gutter flashing can ensure that water will not flow behind your gutters. Gutter flashing will decrease the chance of experiencing water damage to the house. Slide the flashing under the shingles and roofing paper of the home.
However, you may encounter quite a few 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 one-inch roofing nails.
Overlap the flashing to make sure there are no areas where water can fall through.
11. Strengthen Gutters With Hidden Gutter Hangers
Strengthen your gutters with hidden gutter hangers. Once you hang your gutters on the home, you can easily install the hidden gutter hangers. I recommend installing hangers every two feet to provide long-term stability in the gutters. Additionally, 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 make sure to hang the gutter hangers level.
12. 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 elected to use. Use your silicone glue to seal around the edges and around the rivet or screw holes.
Joining sections with silicone glue and with your rivets or screws will also be necessary. Gutter sealant is necessary for any non-seamless gutter and will reduce maintenance costs in the coming years.
13. Maintain Gutters
removeNow that you have brand new gutters on your home, it’s essential to establish an excellent gutter cleaning protocol. One of the best ways to maintain your gutters is to have a product like LeafFilter installed. When looking at the overall cost of gutter installation, also consider cost of LeafFilter. LeafFilter will give you a free quote for their impressive gutter guard solutions and eliminate all clogs that gutters are known to get from leaves, pine needles, animals, and more.
Additionally, it is a good idea to use a mildew or bleach spray on your gutters from time to time to remove any streaking in areas where water spills over the edge. Be sure to protect any landscaping on the ground if you are going to use a product like this.
Should You DIY or Hire a Gutter Installation Professional?
Now that you have all the information necessary for how to install gutters or how to replace them, you may be wondering if professional gutter installation companies are a better solution. This decision as to whether or not DIY gutter installation is a good idea will come down to your budget and time.
The more money you have to spend, the easier it will be to justify the costs of a professional gutter installation. In addition, gutter installation is a bit different than other home improvement projects, and it will take quite a bit of your time. If you don’t have several days to invest in this project, you may want to hire a professional.
Luckily, there are some excellent gutter installation companies to choose from.
Professional Gutter Replacement and Installation
LeafFilter is the best choice for a professional gutter installation company. LeafFilter will come to your home and give you a free quote. One of the great things about the gutter services from LeafFilter is that they also include the LeafFilter gutter guards. These stainless steel micro-mesh 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.
Not comfortable working on a ladder
A gutter contractor is confident standing on a ladder, especially for homes with more than one story.
Don’t have the right tools
Installing your gutters takes quite a bit of equipment and tools, and with professional gutter installation, you can avoid these additional expenses.
Not sure how to replace gutters or what ones you need
If you are not a home improvement expert, expect to have some trouble with this project. Additionally, choosing between steel gutters, copper gutters, or vinyl gutters takes a bit of thought and consideration.
You have a warranty on your gutters
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 on the installation.
You want to avoid any mistakes
Sometimes it’s best to think about the worst thing that can happen when taking on a large DIY project like this. What happens if the gutters don’t drain properly? Are you good at measuring and cutting? Do you have some help to make sure you are not standing on the ladder by yourself installing these gutters? Before jumping into a DIY gutter install, please consider all of this.
Can I Install Gutters Myself?
Gutters can be installed as a DIY project, but it’s best if you have some experience with home improvement-type projects. In addition to awareness of how the gutter system works, you have to plan to make sure it is effective— some angles and slopes are involved in a gutter installation that will take some time to figure out.
How Often Should You Replace House Gutters?
Homeowners should replace 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. Additionally, regions with frequent rainfall will require more frequent gutter replacements.
Final Thoughts
Properly installing or replacing gutters is a task that protects your home for the long term. By following the steps in this article and understanding the different materials and tools required, you can effectively tackle this home improvement project.
Evaluate the current state of your gutters, choose the appropriate materials, and execute each step to guarantee a durable gutter system. This approach will prevent water damage and maintain your home’s value.
If you want to save money on gutter installation costs, the DIY route is the way to go. While DIY installation can be cost-effective, consider your own skill level and available time. The complexity of the task and the necessity for precision may lead you to choose a professional installation. Contact companies like LeafFilter that offer expert services with added benefits like warranties and advanced gutter guard systems.
Whether you choose to tackle the project yourself or hire professionals, a well functioning gutter system is key to protecting your home from potential water damage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I replace gutters myself?
Yes, if you want to save money on gutter installation costs, the DIY route is the way to go. While DIY installation can be cost-effective, consider your own skill level and available time.
Should gutters be nailed or screwed in?
Whether you use nails or screws will depend on the climate you home is located 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.
