Encyclopedia

of Home Improvements

*Gutters and Leaders*

REPAIRING GUTTERS

Scoop out all the debris and flush with a garden hose.

Make sure all gutter hangers (straps, nails etc.)are tight, if lose, replace and add new ones as needed.

Check to see that all gutters are pitched toward a leader pipe. This is necessary so that all water will flow away from the House. If not pitched correctly adjust gutter hangers to get the proper pitch.

Check for leaks. Most leaks occur at the seams. Clean the area around this seam on the inside of your gutter and seal the seam with a high quality gutterlap. Caulk or silicone is not recommended for this application.

INSTALLING NEW GUTTERS AND LEADERS

Draw a diagram of your home and measure all areas that need to collect water run off. This is the total length of gutter needed (the longer the length of the gutter sections you can buy, the better, the fewer seams you will have to seal) .

Determine how many inside or outside corners you will need.

Leaders often need elbows to make turns around corners and under soffits. If you are unsure of exactly how many pieces you will need, get plenty of extras and return the unused pieces when finished.

You will need a gutter fastener about every four feet. There are many different ones available, and installed properly they all work well. You will also need 2 straps on every leader.

Your local lumberyard should have all these parts in stock and can often deliver them for you.

I like to set up the section on the ground and then with a helper attach them to the house. Measure a section to put up making it a couple of inches longer to catch any splashing run off . If you have for an electric miter saw it will give you a nice clean cut. A hacksaw or tin snips will also do the job. Attach end caps by pinching the end with pliers and applying gutter lap to be inside seam.

Attach connectors in between gutter lengths and apply gutterlath to the joint. I like to put a couple of self tapping screws on each side of the connector. It will give the seam a lot of additional strength.

Cut out for the drop outlet for the leader pipe and apply gutterlap to the joint.

Start your gutter fasteners on the ground as much as possible to make the ladder work easier.

It's always easier to hang the gutters with a helper. Put the section in place, making sure it is pitched in the correct direction and secure the fasteners. A quarter of an inch in pitch for every 5 feet is all the pitch you have to have.

From the drop outlet attach the series of elbows and leader pipes so that the main leader is up against the house.

Add another elbow at the bottom of the leader to help divert the water away. You may find it necessary to add additional lengths to carry water further away from certain areas of your home.

All home centers have different kinds of gutter guards that can be installed on your gutters to help keep the debris out. If your gutters require constant maintenance you may want to consider one of these systems.

If you have a particularly large home and roof lines are really high, you may want contact a local gutter contractor. He'll have the proper equipment up high. As always, check to make sure he is licensed and insured and can supply references.

Test your gutter's by using a garden hose to spray water on the roof and check to make sure that the water is flowing freely down the leader and away from the House .

With new home construction many areas are requiring that all leaders be piped into a separate dry well. These systems are costly but work very well. If your house has drainage problems this might be a solution to your problem.

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