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Add Gutters to a Home

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Gutters protect your roof and foundation by carrying excess rainwater away from the perimeter of your house.
Problem: Many ranch-style homes built during the '50s and '60s have low sloping roofs and were typically built without gutters. Gutters are important because they collect rainwater and route it away from your home's roof and foundation.

Solution: Installing gutters on your home can save you a lot of headaches in the long run. In addition to managing the flow of water from the rooftop, gutters can also enhance the appearance of your home.

Materials:
guttering of your choice, including end caps, downspout pieces and couplers
fastening brackets with hardware
chalk line
measuring tape
string
string level
caulk gun with silicone sealant
hammer
drill with bits
tin snips
sheet metal screws or rivet gun with rivets
hacksaw
safety glasses

* These steps just cover the basics of gutter installation; you'll need to modify them to fit your specific application. The main thing to remember is that proper measurements are key. The various pieces necessary to complete a gutter system (like couplers, downspouts, end caps, etc.) will add to the overall length, so remember to include them when measuring and cutting your gutter pieces.

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Figure A
  1. To determine how much guttering you need, measure the total length of the horizontal fascia boards underneath your roofline (figure A). Be sure to include your garage or carport and any porches, and pay special attention to inside and outside corners so you can calculate for them accordingly.
  2. At one of the horizontal fascia boards, identify the corner where you want to install the downspout. At the other end, drive a nail about halfway into the fascia board approximately 1-1/2 inches below the roof edge and 1-1/2 inches from the end of the board. This will serve as a beginning reference point.

  3. Tie a string to the nail and stretch it to the corner where you plan to install the downspout. Use a string level to make a level reference mark 1-1/2 inches below the roof edge and 1-1/2 inches from the end of the board.

  4. Measure the distance between the two points. This is how long your gutter assembly, including couplers and downspout pieces, needs to be.
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Figure B
  • Your gutter will need to slope downward 1/4 inch for every 10 feet in length. For example, assume that the distance between the two reference points is 30 feet. Divide 30 feet by 10 feet to get 3; then multiply the 3 by 1/4 inch to get 3/4 inch. Place another reference mark 3/4 inch below the previous reference mark on the downspout end of the gutter (figure B). The resulting slope will help the rainwater drain toward the downspout.

  • Snap a chalk line along the slope between the first and third reference marks.
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    Figure C
  • Cut guttering to length using tin snips. If it takes two or more pieces to achieve the length you need, you'll have to use a coupler to join the pieces (figure C ). Remember to account for the width of the coupler and any downspout pieces when cutting your gutter pieces to length.

  • Dry-fit the pieces, including end caps, and measure the length. Make any adjustments to ensure you have the proper length of guttering.

  • Take the assembly apart, caulk all the joints with silicone sealant, and reassemble the gutter.

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    Figure D
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    Figure E
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    Figure F
  • Next, install the fastening brackets onto the fascia board with the hardware provided. Align the tops of the brackets with the chalk line (figure D).

  • Lift and snap the gutter in place inside the brackets. Secure the gutter with the remaining part of the bracket (figure E).

  • After all of your guttering is in place, assemble your downspout(s). You may need to join several elbow pieces to reach from the downspout gutter piece around the underside of your roof overhang and back to the corner of your home (or whatever surface you will attach the downspout to, like a porch or carport support beam, etc.) (figure F). Cut the downspout pieces using a hacksaw or tin snips, and join them using sheet-metal screws or a rivet gun and rivets.

    * If you use a rivet gun, dry-fit the pieces together and drill pilot holes through both layers at once. Remember to wear your safety glasses while drilling. Then insert the rivet into the hole and use the rivet gun to join the pieces together.

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    Figure G
  • Put the downspout in place and secure it to a support beam or directly to the side of your home using aluminum straps and whatever screws necessary for the exterior of your home (figure G).

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