Gutters are an important part of the roof system on a home or building. Allowing rainwater to simply pour off the roof directly down the sides of a structure can compromise the walls, windows and doors, plus ultimately the structural foundation. Understanding how to install gutters properly can be vital in protecting a home or building.
How to Install Gutters
Replacing old gutters on a home follows roughly the same steps as a first-time gutter installation. The biggest difference between the two when learning how to install rain gutters is the first step. The first decision is where to place the downspouts for a new gutter system, and then make repairs. The remaining steps explaining how to install a gutter are the same.
Downspout Location …show more content…
Anything over a half an inch of rain in a 60-minute period is such a rare weather phenomenon; it is unrealistic to prepare for such a deluge. It is necessary to find the approximate square footage of each region of roof that will drain into a length of gutter. The commonly accepted practice is to place no less than one downspout for every 1,600 square feet of roof.
Where the water is going is equally as important as how many downspouts are installed when deciding on how to install gutters. Homeowners need to be careful not to erode retaining walls, create drainage problems in a yard, or overflow retention ponds. The best place to aim a downspout is across a driveway or road, into a specially designed cul-de-sac, or out into an open area with good drainage capability.
Additional downspouts are better, because they will handle more water during heavy downpours, plus disperse the water more evenly across the ground. Always err on the side of more downspouts if possible when determining how to install …show more content…
When deciding on gutter width, the roof dimensions will be used again. Normally, a total roof surface of 800 square feet or less, a 4” gutter is sufficient. For square footage between 1,000 and 1,200, the gutter width needs to be 5 inches. Ultimately use the maximum 6-inch gutters for 1,600 square foot of water runoff.
Planners frequently forget to take into account the type of roof material also. This is an important part of how to install gutters to handle the speed of water coming off a roof.
Normal shingle roofs have a rough texture that slows down the flow of water. Slate and metal roofs are flat and smooth, so the speed of water coming off the roof is dramatically increased. When calculating gutter width, add one size up in width for slate and metal roofs to compensate for the increased speed in which water will flood off the roof.
To be certain that the gutters will be able to handle normal rainfall runoff, the pitch of the roof also needs added to the equation. There are roof-pitch calculators, which provide a number added to the equation that includes the square foot of roof space. Presenting these numbers to a gutter supplier, or professional gutter installation company, will guarantee the right sized gutter is
How to Install Gutters
Replacing old gutters on a home follows roughly the same steps as a first-time gutter installation. The biggest difference between the two when learning how to install rain gutters is the first step. The first decision is where to place the downspouts for a new gutter system, and then make repairs. The remaining steps explaining how to install a gutter are the same.
Downspout Location …show more content…
Anything over a half an inch of rain in a 60-minute period is such a rare weather phenomenon; it is unrealistic to prepare for such a deluge. It is necessary to find the approximate square footage of each region of roof that will drain into a length of gutter. The commonly accepted practice is to place no less than one downspout for every 1,600 square feet of roof.
Where the water is going is equally as important as how many downspouts are installed when deciding on how to install gutters. Homeowners need to be careful not to erode retaining walls, create drainage problems in a yard, or overflow retention ponds. The best place to aim a downspout is across a driveway or road, into a specially designed cul-de-sac, or out into an open area with good drainage capability.
Additional downspouts are better, because they will handle more water during heavy downpours, plus disperse the water more evenly across the ground. Always err on the side of more downspouts if possible when determining how to install …show more content…
When deciding on gutter width, the roof dimensions will be used again. Normally, a total roof surface of 800 square feet or less, a 4” gutter is sufficient. For square footage between 1,000 and 1,200, the gutter width needs to be 5 inches. Ultimately use the maximum 6-inch gutters for 1,600 square foot of water runoff.
Planners frequently forget to take into account the type of roof material also. This is an important part of how to install gutters to handle the speed of water coming off a roof.
Normal shingle roofs have a rough texture that slows down the flow of water. Slate and metal roofs are flat and smooth, so the speed of water coming off the roof is dramatically increased. When calculating gutter width, add one size up in width for slate and metal roofs to compensate for the increased speed in which water will flood off the roof.
To be certain that the gutters will be able to handle normal rainfall runoff, the pitch of the roof also needs added to the equation. There are roof-pitch calculators, which provide a number added to the equation that includes the square foot of roof space. Presenting these numbers to a gutter supplier, or professional gutter installation company, will guarantee the right sized gutter is