Protect your home from water damage with this weekend project
When it rains, it pours—right into your gutters. Gutters are water management systems that protect your roof, landscaping, and foundation from issues like flooding and debris. Whether you’re replacing existing gutters or installing new vinyl gutters on your roof, this how-to guide is for you.
Keep reading to learn how to accurately measure for installation, what tools you need for the job, and other tips and tricks for your home’s new water management system.
Gutters are a standard fixture on most homes for a reason. They help prevent water damage to a home’s foundation and siding by routing water away from the home. But in some situations, like if you have a metal roof or your home is lucky enough to be perched on downward slopes, they may not be necessary.
In that case, one or more of these gutter alternatives may be a more cost-effective solution.
Drip edges: A drip edge is a metal flashing on your roof that extends past the roof’s edge. It helps prevent water from running down your home’s siding but doesn’t do much to protect your home’s foundation or landscaping.
Rain chains: Rain chain gutters attach to the edge of your roof and extend all the way to the ground. As it rains, the water travels down the chain to the ground or to a rain barrel or bucket.
French drains: French drains are like gutters, but instead of existing on your home itself, they’re dug into the ground. They are installed wherever water naturally collects on the ground and routes it elsewhere.
Once you’ve decided that vinyl gutters are indeed the solution you need, it’s time to prep. But before you start planning how to install your gutters, you should first make sure your roof is up for the project.
Take care to look at the condition of your soffits and fascia to see if they can withstand the weight of the new gutters and the water that will eventually fill them.
If you notice any signs of damage or rotting, you’ll need to do some handiwork before you start. The cost to repair your roof may be steep, but if you skip this step, you may have to replace your roof and your gutters sooner than you think.
The point of gutters is to reroute water from your roof to a dedicated area. So before you get out your tape measure to start planning your gutter installation project, consider how you want to handle water runoff.
There are a few different options depending on your home, your needs, and your budget.
Rain barrel: If you have a garden or a lot of landscaping, consider a rain barrel at the end of one or all of your downspouts. This way, you can collect water to reuse for other purposes around the home. You should expect to spend about $100 on one rain barrel from your local hardware store.
Splash blocks: The most common solution is splash blocks, which are plastic or stone pads located at the bottom of your gutter drain. These help divert water from your foundation by creating a path for the water to flow away from your house. You can get a plastic splash block for about $6.
Downspout extensions: If a splash block doesn’t divert the water far enough away from your home, a downspout extension can help. These are essentially long corrugated pipes that attach to the bottom of your gutters to move the water further from your foundation. Downspout extensions will run you about $12.
If your yard experiences a lot of water buildup, gutters might not be enough to solve your problem. In this case, you may want to consider a more permanent and effective solution, like grading or a drip path.
Installing landscaping drainage will cost between $2,110 to $6,714 but can save you quite a bit in other repairs like landscaping or foundation repair.
Now you’re ready to get out your calculator and put on your thinking cap. Planning your gutter installation requires a lot of math, so give yourself the time and space to do this right—because, as they say, “measure twice, cut once.”
Measure the length and width of every area of your roof that requires gutters.
Multiply each area’s length and width to get the square foot of that area.
Add each square foot together to get the total square footage.
Hold your level horizontally and place one end of the level against your roof.
Level the level out (once you do, only one corner will be touching the roof).
Starting at the point of contact with the roof, measure and mark 12 inches along the level.
Next, measure the distance from the mark on the level to the surface of the roof, making a right angle. This is your roof’s pitch.
To figure out the adjusted square footage of the roof, you’ll need to calculate your roof’s pitch factor. This tells you the vertical rise of your roof over a 12-inch span.
Take your total square footage from Step 1 and multiply it with your multiplier from Step 3. This will give you the total square footage of gutters you need to purchase.
This number will also determine gutter sizes and what downspouts you need. You’ll use that information to decide what type of gutter kit to purchase.
Downspouts should be placed every 25 to 35 linear feet of gutter and no more than 40 feet. If your climate is extra wet or you have a smaller roof pitch, you may need to install more downspouts to make sure your gutter drains efficiently.
Your downspouts should be installed in a way that drains water away from your home’s foundation.
You can buy your gutters piece by piece or buy all-in-one gutter kits. These kits come in many gutter materials and include everything you need for installation, like caps, connectors, and corners.
With this option, you may have to purchase multiple kits and end up with more than you need, but it does simplify the purchasing process.
That being said, if you’re trying to keep your cost low, purchase everything separately instead. If you go this route, know that you’ll need end caps, connectors, corners, and a gutter hanger for every 2 feet of your gutter. You’ll also probably have to cut your own downspouts as well.
If you have questions about what type of kit or which parts to purchase, ask the salesperson at the hardware store for help.
Your gutters should be angled at a slope so that water flows freely down and out the spouts. To avoid having to measure while you’re up on a ladder with gutters in hand, mark the slope before you start installation.
Ideally, gutters should be sloped 1/4 to 1/2 inch for every 10 feet of gutter, leading toward the downspout.
Hammer a nail into place at the mark of the slope at one end of your eave. Attach the chalk line to this nail and extend it. Use your level to make sure your chalk line is accurate by ensuring the bubble is on the up side. Once you’re happy with the slope, snap the chalk line.
Based on your sketch and measurements, cut your gutter into the appropriate sizes using a miter saw. If there are any vinyl burrs after cutting, sand them down using sandpaper.
Before each cut, measure twice to ensure it’s correct before it’s too late.
Before you start installing the gutters, screw in your downspout outlets first. Using 1.25-inch deck screws and a drill, attach the outlets to the corners of your home. Doing this step first will give you a guide for the rest of the installation.
For the corners that don’t require downspouts, install the gutter corners.
Gutter hangers are what hold your gutters in place and support the weight of the water. They should be installed at least every 2 feet along the fascia. If it rains more in your area, you may consider installing them closer together for extra support during big rain storms.
Install the gutter hangers in place using deck screws, making sure the top screw lines up with your slope chalk line.
Slide the gutters into the appropriate downspouts and corners (also called outlets). Once attached to the outlet, drop the gutter into the hangers.
For sections over 10 feet in length, install a slip joint to connect the two gutter sections. At the end of the gutter that doesn’t require a downspout, add end caps.
For longer pieces, ask a friend to help. It’ll make the job much easier and safer.
Connect your drain pipes to their appropriate downspouts. Secure the spouts to the siding of your home using your gutter hangers. Use your judgment to decide how many hangers you need to keep the downspout in place.
Make sure the end of the downspout is facing away from your home toward whatever solution you landed on in Step 1.
For an extra layer of protection against the elements, you can add coverings to your gutters called gutter guards. Similar to how a colander catches spaghetti noodles but allows water to escape into your drains, gutter guards stop larger debris from getting into your gutters and potentially clogging them.
While not foolproof, these are a great way to reduce how often you have to clean your gutters.
While installing gutters isn’t necessarily difficult in terms of handyperson skills, the process does require a lot of know-how, including how to take accurate measurements, determine appropriate pitch, and install all the components correctly.
If you’re unsure about how to do any of these steps, it’s best to leave this job to a professional. Incorrect calculations or haphazard installation can be dangerous for you and your home, not to mention a waste of time and money.
Professional gutter replacement costs around $4 to $30 per linear foot. For most homeowners, that averages out to about $1,900, although the total cost depends on factors like the size of your home, gutter material and style, and your climate. If you add splash pads or gutter flashing, that will increase the cost as well. Some companies might remove and dispose of your old gutters for you, although this may be an extra cost.
While this may seem like a large price tag, some homeowners may find it worth it to hire a gutter installation company to avoid all the risks and headache.
Brackets or gutter hangers should be no more than 24 inches apart from one another. For wetter climates, like New Orleans or Nashville, 18 inches apart will add more support. Gutter hangers act as support to your gutters, so if they’re spaced too far apart, you may experience sagging or even a separation—requiring a full-on gutter replacement.
Yes, caulking or sealing your vinyl gutters is a good way to help prevent gutter leaks. When you’re installing gutters, it’s important to overlap the sections to help avoid issues like leaks or drips, but they can still happen. In this case, adding caulk can help. Make sure to use a caulk designed for multiple surfaces, like a silicone-based caulk. You can also purchase a gutter sealant as well, which is specifically designed for this purpose.
While gutter alternatives can't generally match the water-management capacity of traditional gutters, some alternatives that might work for specific climates or property types include rain chains, French drains, and rain-dispersal systems. If you want an alternative to vinyl gutters because you're looking for a more architecturally appealing option, consider copper gutters, aluminum gutters, or faux copper gutters.
