Using many of the same basic techniques we show in this story, you can install your own “seamless” gutters. Caulk the seam on the inside of the rain gutter with gutter sealant. Attach this short section of downspout to the two elbows with two 1/4-in. The bubble should be off-center toward the high side. Running a hose through the gutters will reveal if there are any clogs in the downspouts. Gutters typically come in 5 or 6 in (13 or 15 cm) sizes, and can be “K-style” or “half-round.” Place a sturdy 20 ft (6.1 m) ladder on 1 side of your house so that you can reach the gutters. Here are some things you can do to prevent ice in gutters and downspouts. © 2020 Western States Metal Roofing. Slide gutter flashing under the shingles and secure with one-inch roofing nails every two feet. Hold another elbow against the wall and measure between them. Mark measurement and subtract 4 ¾ inches to leave room for the second elbow. Then straighten gutter sections as you screw them to the fascia by aligning the top edge with the chalk line. Since 10-ft. lengths of downspout are only crimped on one end, you’ll have to crimp one end of any cutoff piece to make it fit inside the next elbow or downspout section. 2. Cut out the outlet hole with offset tin snips. Use a measuring tape to determine the length of the gutter. Measure the distance between these fittings and cut a short length of downspout to join the, allowing for about 1 1/2 in. Each downspout requires three elbows. If you require a different angle, custom-made angles can be ordered upon request. Here are a few planning tips: Measure the horizontal rain gutter runs and downspouts and identify the parts you’ll need. If the gutter run measures longer than 40 feet (12.2 m), it should be positioned to pitch down from the middle, aimed toward a downspout at each end. Then lean on the drill and drive them into the fascia. Many houses have a trim board or crown molding nailed to the fascia just under the shingles. Measure the height of downspouts and add four feet to each for the extension away from the house at the bottom. Carefully climb up the ladder and measure the width of the opening at the top of the gutters. Slide the short length of the downspout onto the bottom of the … Gutters Over Flows, add downspout to bring water down from roof faster. Use a hacksaw to cut this length from the uncrimped end of a downspout tube. That allows water to easily flow to the downspout. Slope each house gutter run down toward the downspout about 1/4-in. Now drill the remaining holes and install the rivets. Make a mark 1 ¼ inches at each corner of your elbow. Also, lap the rain gutters so the inside section is facing downhill to prevent water from being forced out the seam. Using cutting snips, notch cut each corner. We have created a written installation guide and a supporting video to make this installation a breeze. Instead of butting parts together and covering the joints with a seam cover as recommended by the manufacturer, lap all seams from two to four inches. Buy special gutter sealant to seal the seams. Place downspouts in inconspicuous locations if possible. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. Cut a two inch long notch in the front lip of the gutter with tin snips to join a rain … Flush out the gutter with water, starting … Make Sure Your Gutters Are Properly Sloped. With the three blades on the inside of the tube, hold the crimper against the inside corner of the tube and squeeze. Where a gutter ends, cut it to extend about an inch past the end of the fascia board to catch water from the overhanging shingles. Adding a 2 by 3 rectangular downspout, for instance, boosts your gutter… We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), Deals We Love: Christmas Tree Storage Bags, How to Get Your Gutters Ready for Fall and Winter, Vintage Family Handyman Feature from 1986: New Building Techniques for Remodelers, Do Not Sell My Personal Information – CA Residents. for every 10 feet of gutter. Flush the Gutters After most of the debris is removed, flush the remaining bits and dirt from the gutter with a garden hose. Gutters and downspouts keep water away from your home's foundation and are essential to any home's structural health. Now architects, engineers, designers, and contractors can easily and accurately size downspouts and gutters … Measure distance from the fold of the flap to the wall. Drive a nail at this mark and stretch a chalk line between the two nails. Use sheet metal screws rather than rivets so you can disassemble the downspouts to clean them if necessary. You should refer to the manufacturer’s metal roofing installation guide as your main reference, but we help you out more by providing a written step by step guide. Use the same process to join two sections of gutter, except overlap the pieces at least four inches. Downspouts should be constructed with conductor heads every 40 ft(12.2 m) to admit air and prevent vacuum. All Rights Reserved | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy, How to Install A Downspout For Your Gutter: A Step By Step Guide, manufacturer’s metal roofing installation guide, downspout outlet installed on your gutter, Installing roofing underlayment at gutter, fastening, and. Looking for more homeowner guides and step-by-step installation help? Nest the elbow into the downspout section. Otherwise use the appropriate screw for your wall condition. In either case, prime and paint bare wood before you hang the gutters. Clogged gutters are a big issue and you will see this all the time. Allow for a 1-1/2-in. It costs a little more, but you’ll be able to choose from dozens of colors and eliminate seams in the gutter runs. But with just a little more work, you can use these same parts to put together rain gutters and downspouts that are stronger and better looking too. Attach the lower sections with two pop rivets on three sides of the downspout. He has been in the metal roofing industry for 25 years. Downspouts are mostly attached to the house by downspout brackets, which can be easily removed for further cleaning if the downspout … You can find everything you need at the Western States Metal Roofing Learning Center to help you have an easy and successful installation. Assemble the elbows and downspout tube with the crimped ends facing down to prevent water from leaking out of the joints. Center the outlet, flange side down, over the mark and trace around the inside. If your downspouts have horizontal extension pipes, remove these to clear the downspouts. The final section of downspout will come with a 45 degree downspout kick out already attached to the downspout. B, below) for signs of rotted wood, which must be replaced before you put up the rain gutters. Place elbow to the downspout outlet. Snap a chalk line to indicate the top of the gutter. Press the outlet into the caulked opening and install the rivets. holes for the rivets. You’ll need to remove this, as we did, or add a continuous strip of wood under it to create a flat plane for the gutters. How To Attach the Downspout And Install The Downspout Straps Apply silicone sealant one inch from the edge of the downspout outlet’s outside perimeter. x 3 in. Slip the outlet into the hole and predrill 1/8-in. below the shingles on the high side of the gutter run. Then count up the inside and outside corners and end caps (note whether they are right or left ends). Measure the roof to get the watershed area, the area from which water will run off. The downspout is the pipe that takes the water from the gutter down to ground level, where it is directed away from the property. This durable downspout is maintenance free and has UV stabilizers to help prevent UV light degradation. If your home center or hardware store doesn’t sell pre-bent flashing, ask an aluminum siding contractor or local sheet metal fabricator to bend some for you. NOTE: Do not attach the elbow at this time. The gutter outlet capacity should suit the downspout … By taking care of your roof's drainage system, you can extend the life of your roof and help prevent water damage to your home. Each length of gutter and every elbow is squeezed, or crimped, on one end to allow the pieces to fit together, one inside the other. overlap at each end. You’ll extend the life of your gutters and eliminate problems like backed-up gutters and plugged downspouts. They come in various angles, most commonly 45 degrees and 90 degrees. 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