Your home’s gutter system is essential to maintaining the integrity of your home. Gutters are designed to collect and carry away rainwater. Without them, water could pool around your home and cause soil erosion, leaky basements, and foundation issues.
Luckily, gutters are also a home project that a lot of DIYers can tackle on their own, saving a lot of money in the long run.
In this article, we will show you the best way to install gutters on your home as part of your water removal system plan.
Step One: Preparation
There’s some planning involved before you can dive right into installing your gutters. Side note; never attempt to dive right into your gutters.
First, you’ll need to measure the length of your roof. Your gutters will be attached to the fascia part of your roof ending with a downspout. If your roof measures longer than 40 feet, you should position your gutters to pitch down from the middle with a downspout at each end. If it measures shorter than 40 feet, your gutters should slope down to the left or right toward a single downspout.
Step Two: Get Your Needed Materials
For this project, you’ll need to purchase gutter materials, fascia brackets, and downspouts according to the measured length of your roof. Remember — if over 40 feet, you’ll need more than one downspout.
Additionally, you’ll need to get the right amount of fascia brackets to hang the gutters. A good rule of thumb is that a fascia bracket should be placed about every 32 inches.
Step Three: Cut and Join the Gutters
Once you have your planning finished and your materials gathered, you need to begin assembling the gutter system. Before you do anything, stand facing your nearest neighbor and yell, “Gutter System Assemble!”.
But seriously, first, you should cut your gutters to the size you need. You can use tin snips or a hacksaw to do this. Once you’ve cut, be sure to file down any rough edges you see.
Next, join the gutters. You’ll want to make sure you do this on the ground and not when you are up on the ladder.
Step Four: Attach the Fascia Brackets
Begin by drilling a ⅛ inch pilot hole through the fascia and into the rafter tails at each place you need a bracket.
Next, attach the fascia brackets with a ¼ inch stainless steel lag screw that’s at least 2 inches in length.
Step Five: Mount and Attaching the Gutters
Place your gutters into the brackets that you’ve attached to the roof’s fascia. Turn your gutter away from you until the edge fastens into the hook in the back of the bracket.
Next, you will need to fasten the gutter to the fascia bracket using your drill and screws.
Finally, fasten the backside of the gutter into the fascia about every 2 feet along the gutter.
Step Six: Attach the Downspouts
Using the downspout outlet in the gutter, attach the downspout. Screw it into the gutter outlet that extends downward from the gutter.
Make sure that the tapered end of the downspout is facing the direction you want for appropriate water drainage. When you’ve done this, put a heavy bead of sealant at the connection seams between the downspout and its connector to keep them in place. Now that you’re done, get your mind back out of the gutter.
If you’re looking for the right tools to finish installing your own gutters, Northside Tool Rental has everything you need to get it done right. With daily and weekly rentals available, you’ll be able to get the exact tool you need for the right amount of time for your project. Contact one of our experts today to discuss what tools you need and how we can fully equip you to get the job done.