How To Install and Replace Gutters
September 10, 2024
Having a gutter system on your home will not only increase resale value but also make it much easier to properly maintain your home. Whether you want to replace existing gutters or are ready to install something entirely new, our guide has all the information you need. Let's take a look at how to install and replace gutters.
There are a few key signs to look for that will alert you that it's time to replace your rain gutters. Gutter repair costsย for gutters in bad shape can be as high as replacement costs.
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, this one is a bit involved and requires choosing the proper materials and preparing your workspace.
Homeowners have the choice of several different gutter materials to choose from, ranging from vinyl gutters to copper gutters. Each type of gutter has other associated costs. In addition to materials, gutter styles need to be considered, including half-round or K-style gutters.
Here is a full guide to the different types of gutters you can choose from.
Here are some of the most important tools and components 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.
Follow this step-by-step guide to complete your DIY gutter installation or replacement effectively.
Finding the best gutter for your home involves looking at the different style and fit that may work for your home. Look at the current gutter system and see if issues are not working for your home.
Look for damage and try to understand why that is happening. Gutters could have issues with the angle at which they are installed 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. As part of this process, it also makes sense to look into some of theย best gutter guardsย for your new gutters. Gutter guards will significantly increase the longevity of your gutter system.
This step is pretty simple but is essential to get right. You can get a basic idea of how much you'll need in the materials by pacing or measuring your home's footprint (outer perimeter).
Keep in mind that gutter and downspout sections are sold in ten-foot lengths. You should plan for six to eight inches of overlap at each joint. For example, if you have a 20-foot section of gutter to install on a given side of your home, two ten-foot lengths of material will not be sufficient. The same applies to downspouts.
Assume that each joint and downspout outlet will require the following:
Each corner of your gutter system will require the following:
See our list above of the necessary tools and equipment you will need for your gutter replacement or installation. Remember 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 disposal method.
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 required excess material on your corners (at least six inches per end, per corner). Using your miter saw, cut your lengths of gutter to size.
Before putting your gutters up on the home, attach them and caulk. When connecting the gutters, ensure you overlap at least four inches. In addition, make sure that wherever visible, the factor cut edge stands out.
When a gutter section ends, cut it to extend an inch past the fascia board. This is done to help catch water from shingles that overhang. Most rooflines will have this, so it's important to pay attention to where the gutters are positioned.
Use a caulk designed explicitly for gutter installation and follow all specifics and directions to ensure it stays together for years. One of the most common complaints for homeowners with old gutters is that the seams start to fall apart.
Before putting the gutters on the home, mark, cut, and rivet the downspout holes. When you did your gutter planning, the route and path water takes from the roof to the ground should have been carefully considered.
Double-check your measurements and that there are no obstructions that would make it impossible to place the downspout. Then follow this process:
Now that 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.
Once you've measured your home and purchased the necessary materials, you'll be ready to begin 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:
Now that your downspout holes are cut and your gutter sections are solidly together, you can begin hanging your gutters onto your brackets.
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. The flashing should slide under the shingles and roofing paper of the home.
However, there are sometimes quite a few nails and staples that make it impossible to slide the flashing far enough under the roofing paper and shingles. If this is the case, pushing the flashing under the first row of shingles should be enough. Secure the flashing with one-inch roofing nails.
We like to overlap the flashing to ensure there are no areas where water can fall through.
Gutters can be strengthened with hidden gutter hangers. Once your gutters hang on the home, the hidden gutter hangers are quite easy to install. We recommend installing hangers every two feet to ensure long-term stability in the gutters. In addition, the hidden hangers will help in situations with really heavy rainfall as well.
When installing hidden gutter hangers, try to be careful that you don't lean on the newly installed gutters, put pressure on the drill, and be sure to hang the gutter hangers level.
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 silicone glue to seal around the edges and the rivet or screw holes.
Joining sections with silicone glueย andย with your rivets or screws will also be necessary here. Gutter sealant is required for any non-seamless gutter and will reduce maintenance costs in the coming years.
Now that you have brand new gutters in 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, considerย Leaffilter cost. 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.
In addition, it is a good idea to use mildew or bleach spray on your gutters from time to time to remove any streaking in areas where water spills over the edge. Protect any landscaping on the ground using a product like this.
Now that you have all the information necessary forย how to install guttersย 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.
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 ensure your gutters never get clogged. Here are some reasons you may want to hire a professional service.
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 ensure you are not standing on the ladder by yourself installing these gutters? Before jumping into a DIY gutter install, please consider all of this.
Gutters can be installed as a DIY project, but it's best to have some experience with home improvement-type projects. In addition to awareness of how the gutter system works, you have to plan to ensure it is effective; some angles and slopes are involved in a gutter installation that will take some time to figure out.
House gutters should be replaced anywhere from 20 to 50 years from the date of their original installation. The original install job and the quality of the gutter material used determine the time between gutter replacements. In addition, climates where rain is frequent will have to replace gutters more often.
We hope you now have a much better understanding of the process involved with a DIY gutter installation. If you want to save money onย gutter installation costs,ย the DIY route is the way to go. If you don't feel comfortable with the steps involved in a DIY gutter installation, LeafFilter can give you a full quote for a high-quality gutter and gutter guard system.
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