Installing gutters is a crucial part of protecting your home from water damage. To ensure that your gutters are properly installed, it's important to choose the right size gutter, pay attention to the inclination of the rain gutters, and make sure that the gutter hooks that hold them are not too far apart. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the steps of installing gutters, from measuring the roof to attaching the hangers.
Choose the Right Size Gutter
.Before you start installing gutters, you'll need to measure the length of your roof and buy that many feet of gutter material from a home improvement store. Gutters come in 10-foot sections that are joined together with a special bracket and sealer.
Do Not Separate the Hangers from the Gutter Too Far
. When checking the hangers, it's important that they are no more than 2 feet apart.If you live in colder climates where the weight of snow and ice can put additional pressure on gutters, space them less than 2 feet apart. It's also a good idea to check the spacing recommendations provided by the manufacturer.
Pay Attention to the Inclination of the Rain Gutters
. To ensure that the gutters drain properly, make sure that they are angled (½ inch per 10 feet) toward a downspout.For gutters longer than 40 feet, it's best to tilt the gutter downward from the center to a downspout at each end. Or you can tilt the gutters downward from each end toward a single downspout placed in the center of the duct. Determine what works best for your home before ordering gutters and accessories.
The Gutters Must Be Below the Roofline
.For ideal drainage, you need approximately one inch of drop per 20 feet of travel. If the face board is level, as it should be, measure from the edge to the starting point, then scroll down 20 feet and make a mark one inch lower. Connect the marks with a chalk line to create a guide for the upper part of the gutter. A professional gutter installation company will use a level during installation to ensure that the gutters are tilted correctly and that they are below the roofline.
If you're installing gutters yourself, make sure to follow these steps carefully and double-check your work before moving on. Installing gutters is an important part of protecting your home from water damage. By following this comprehensive guide, you can ensure that your gutters are properly installed and functioning correctly.