Water and moisture are your house’s worst enemies but luckily gutters are here to protect your home from severe damage. Broken and leaking gutters must be replaced as soon as possible since it’s their job to ensure that rainwater is carried away from the house. With a correctly installed drainage system, you can feel at ease and safe all year round. In addition, installing gutters is a great way to preserve the structural integrity of your house, as well as to increase the efficiency and value of your home. In this article, we’ll look at how to install your gutters properly and upgrade the exterior of your home.
Accurately Measure Your Roof
The project of installing gutters is not all fun and games, as you need to be very careful and precise. You might be interested in looking for a professional local contractor to install your gutters and provide your property with enhanced protection.
Nevertheless, the first step of this project is to accurately measure your roof. Climb up a ladder carefully and measure the width and height of the roof. If you multiply these, you get the dimension/unit that you need to know when choosing dimensions for gutters and downspouts.
Different manufacturers have different guidelines for what to use, but all follow the norm: the larger the surface, the larger the dimensions of gutters and pipes. For any length over 40 feet, you must install two downspouts, one at each end of the gutter.
Choose Size of Gutter and Mark Points of Downward Slope
Gutters come in different types and sizes. You must choose the right size relative to your home and how much average rainfall you get in the area where you live.
If you happen to choose the wrong size of the gutter, it might lead to overflow and cause damage to your home’s foundation. If you feel unsure about what size of gutter to get, consult a professional and they’ll guide you in the right direction.
Often gutters look like they’re attached straight but they’re following a downward slope which allows water to move into the downspout and prevent any water from pooling. You can use chalk to mark the fascia as a way to point out where the downward slope will be. Remember that for every 10 feet, you’ll have to lower the gutter by ¼ of an inch to ensure the proper flow of water.
Attach Downspout Outlet
The moment you buy all materials, make sure to mark and trace where the downspout will be and where you’ll be attaching it. When you’re about to cut out the outlet’s shape, use a hammer and chisel and create a V-shaped hole to make it easier to cut the rest of the opening with tin snips. Proceed to attach the outlet into the cut hole and waterproof the section by applying silicone gutter sealant.
Cut Gutters Based on Slope Markers
Oftentimes, you may end up buying gutters that are too long to be mounted on your house. Use a hacksaw to cut the gutters on a flat surface to get a clean and straight cut and match the length of your roof based on measurements you have taken beforehand. Switch to heavy-duty wire snips if you require more precision around smaller cuts.
Mount Supports and New Gutter
You can start to attach the gutter’s fascia brackets by drilling a ⅛ inch pilot hole. Such pilot holes need to be located at the downward slope points we mentioned earlier in the text. After completing the pilot holes, use ¼ inch stainless steel lag screws in the length of around two inches as a way to fasten the fascia brackets into place.
If the fascia is hard and you’re having a hard time getting the screws, you can apply soap to the stainless steel lag screws. When everything is in place, go ahead and lay the new gutters into the fascia brackets.
Attach Downspout
Once all of your gutters are put into place, the downspout is next to be attached. You can start by screwing the specific downspout onto the gutter outlet that you’ve attached previously. As you attach the downspout, remember that the end should point directly towards nearby drainage so that flooding in your garden, basement, or driveway is avoided.
Once everything is attached, apply a sealant and leave it to dry completely overnight to guarantee stability.
Final Words
The benefits of having properly installed gutters go beyond convenience. Gutters not only protect your house from serious water damage but also prevent mold growth in and around your house.
Don’t hesitate to hire a professional if you want to avoid making a mistake and creating additional costs.
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