Site the perfect spot for your home’s gutters
Whether you live in an arid climate where rain is an anomaly or you are well-accustomed to storms, gutters serve a critical role in your home’s architecture. These essential components effectively divert water away from your house, protecting it from potential foundation damage, mold growth, and other serious problems. However, it's crucial to be aware that inadequately installed gutters can still lead to these issues. By following our essential tips, you can ensure a smooth and error-free gutter installation process.
There are many different types of gutters. Budget will naturally be one major concern when selecting gutters, but do your best to select the most durable gutters in your budget that are appropriate for where you live (i.e. if you live somewhere with a lot of rain, you might choose gutters with a larger capacity)—cheaper gutter materials, such as vinyl, can cause issues down the line. Zinc gutters are generally considered one of the strongest options on the market and last up to 50 years. If you are unsure which gutter type will be the best option within your price range, talk to a local gutter contractor.
Gutters may appear to be installed parallel to the roofline of the house, but in reality, they are installed at a slight incline to allow rainwater to flow away from your home to the downspout. Different roofs and home sizes will require different slope calculations, but the most common slope calculation works as follows:
The slope should be a maximum of ¼ inch for every 10 feet of gutter
Downslopes should be placed every 30 feet
You can measure the gutter slope by running a piece of string from the proposed location for an end cap to the proposed location for a downspout; this is the length of your guttering. Lower the end of the string on the downspout end no more than ¼ inch for every 10 feet. Using chalk, mark a line along the roofline to note where the gutters will be installed.
For long guttering (40 feet or more) the slope or pitch should start in the middle, sending water to a downspout at each end.
Gutter pitch is very important to maintain the integrity of your home; misaligned pitch can cause water to pool, gutter overflow, or sludge to come off of your gutters.
Gutters should be placed under or behind the “drip edge” of your roof. The drip edge refers to the component that hangs over your roof with an outward projecting bottom edge; the idea is that water can follow the drip line and end up in the gutter. These two roof components, in other words, work together to direct water in the right direction—away from your home. If the drip edge is installed incorrectly and the gutters sit below the edge, water can drop behind your gutter and cause damage to your home.
In addition, install the gutters as close to your shingles as possible, no more than two or three inches away. Any further away and rain will run off the roof without draining properly.
You should adjust your gutter hanger placement based on your climate—hangers play an important role in your gutter system, and when they are placed too far apart in an area with heavy rains, the gutters can begin to sag which can lead to pooling. If you live somewhere very sunny, the hangars should be placed close to the middle of the gutter, no further than 36 inches from the center. For rainy locations, hangers should be installed with 18 inches or less between them.
There are various types of gutter hangers you can choose from. Hidden hangers are the most common and widely used gutter hangers. They clip into your gutter’s front lip and span across to the back. They are durable, effective, and require minimum maintenance.
Gutter flashing under your shingles and over the back edge of your gutters will prevent water from spilling behind your gutters, which can cause damage and rot to your fascia. Your flashing should sit beneath the shingles and the roofing paper. If the flashing is too short to extend to the back side of the gutter, attach a strip of metal sheet flashing over the gutter to attach it.
The number of downspouts you install as well as their placement is very important; downspouts help to prevent overflows and pooling water. The downspouts should be placed in areas where water will easily drain away from your home, and you can even buy downspout extensions if you need to extend the length to ensure they send rain into a drain or a yard. In general, you will need one downspout for every 25 to 35 linear feet of gutter.
Installing gutters yourself will save you $75 per hour in labor, but you’ll still need to pay for the gutters themselves (roughly $4 to $30 per linear foot, depending on gutter material) and get through a very intense installation project that requires noting a lot of numbers and other details. Installing gutters also involves working on a ladder at rooftop height, which is a task best left to a local gutter installation professional who has all the appropriate safety equipment. Pros with several years of experience will know how to install gutters the right way the first time, so you won’t have to redo any work or deal with issues down the line.
Yes. The average temperature during the year determines how you should place your gutter hangers. For warmer climates, place the hangers closer to the center of the gutter. The hangers should be within three feet apart from the center. For colder climates, ensure sufficient spacing between the hangers because your gutter needs to carry the additional weight from ice and snow.
Gutter hangers won’t be able to provide ample support if they are spaced too far apart. This will lead to sections of your gutters to sink and sag. Over time, sagging sections become more prone to break. Generally, your gutter hangers should be no more than three feet apart from each other.
