Gutter Installation – How to Install a Gutter System
Gutter installation is a big job, but the time and effort invested will pay off with a well-designed, long-lasting gutter system. Start with a thorough inspection of the house’s fascia boards. If there’s damage, fix it before proceeding. For long gutter runs, slope them toward the downspout location to ensure that they carry water away from the home. Gutter installation requires a ladder, so have someone help you.
Use a power gutter installation saw fitted with a carbide blade or a hacksaw to cut gutter sections to length, splicing them at corners as necessary. Overlap sections by at least four inches. Cover the seam with a strip of aluminum called a miter that extends over the corner, and attach it to both sections with pop rivets or sheet-metal screws. This keeps the water from leaking through small cracks at the corners, and can be made even more waterproof by caulking the joint.
A Step-by-Step Guide to the Gutter Installation Process
Mark the high point on each fascia board and the low point where the downspout will drain. Measure down from the high point to the center of the gutter, and cut in a downspout outlet tube.
For each gutter run, locate and mark the location of each gutter bracket on every other rafter tail (the short horizontal pieces that stick out from the side of the roof). Drill pilot holes through each rafter tail and fasten the gutter brackets with 1/4-in. self-tapping hex head sheet metal screws (or 1/8-in. medium-length rivets). For added strength, screw a 3/4-in.-long metal washer under each screw as shown.
“Ensz & Sons Gutters of Huntsville
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248 Shadow Ct SW Huntsville 35824
(662) 435-4332
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