Installing gutters is a great DIY job that can save you money in the long run, whether you plan to stay in your home for the long haul or sell it in the future. To make sure your gutters are installed correctly, it's important to understand the basics of how they should be set up. The first step is to create a fall or slope that ensures water always flows into the downspouts. For optimal drainage, you need about one inch of drop for every 20 feet of travel.
If the face board is level, measure from the edge to the starting point, then go down 20 feet and make a mark one inch lower. Connect these marks with a chalk line to create a guide for the upper part of the gutter. These DIY gutters come in 10-foot sections that are joined together with a special bracket and sealer. Half of the seam can be left on the floor before hanging each piece.
The mounting brackets can also be fixed to the floor. Using a cordless drill and screws, attach the section on the side of the gutter drain pipe to the house, following the line of inclination of the chalk. As with the first (lower) section of the gutter, follow the slope line of the adjoining upper section of the gutter. It's usually best to completely replace the fascia, as it must be strong enough to accept new screws and hold heavy gutters that contain water. Moving water away from your roof is as simple as letting it drain into gutters with an open upper part connected directly to your house's fascia.
Place downspouts in inconspicuous places if possible, and install oversized 3 × 4 inch pipes. Tilt long stretches of gutters (40 feet or more) in both directions from the center and place a downspout at each end. Gutter installation on second floors is usually best done by professional gutter installation companies. Place a section of gutter against your house's side to see where corner meets end.
Make sure that nail is located at top of fascia so that line you draw is not obscured by gutter. Make sure this section overlaps first section and is sealed with gutter sealer to prevent leaks. As long as you have good weather, a partner to help you, right tools and sturdy ladder, you can install gutters throughout an entire one-story house in one or two weekends. The gutters and downspouts are joined together by a variety of connectors and corners to form a unified system. Without gutters, rain and snow that drip from roof relentlessly hit ground, creating heavy, waterlogged floor that can break foundations.
The gutters in your home may not look like much, but they're actually a powerful tool for keeping your house looking good for years to come.
