4 Things To Consider When Installing New Gutters
Posted on: 7 May 2018
Installing gutters may seem like a straightforward process, but it actually takes some planning to configure the proper system. Besides choosing the right material from a choice of wood, metal, and vinyl, you can also choose between sectional and seamless. Then, the design is mapped out. Here are some considerations when it comes to gutter installation.
1. Location Of The Downspouts
Deciding where to put the downspouts is a matter of choosing a place that is sloped to drain away from the house. You also want them to be away from a door or your electrical panel. The number of downspouts is determined by the size of your home and the amount of rain you normally get. Long troughs might require downspouts on both ends. The downspouts should be positioned so they drain in an area where the water won't pool where it isn't wanted. You may want to point them toward the street or even connect them to an underground drain.
2. Compatibility Of Metals
Keep galvanic corrosion in mind when planning the gutter system. Certain metals don't pair well together because one will accelerate the corrosion of the other. For instance, if you choose copper gutters, you'll want to use copper hangers and accessories rather than steel or aluminum because copper can cause the other metals to corrode more quickly. Aluminum gutters don't pair well with copper roofs or asphalt shingle roofs treated with copper to resist algae. Even copper flashing can cause aluminum gutters to corrode quicker. The metals don't have to make contact with each other for this to happen since rain will flow from one to the other and the water helps accelerate the process.
3. Sloping Of Troughs
Sloping is an important step in gutter installation because this is what allows water to drain with gravity. Long troughs may need to be sloped from the middle to both ends. Shorter troughs are sloped from one corner of the house to the other toward a downspout. The slope is maintained by clipping the gutters to the roof or fascia, so it is one of the last things to be checked when installation is complete to make sure the slope wasn't accidentally adjusted. Gutters that don't have the right degree of slope allow water to puddle in the middle and that leads to sagging and ineffective drainage.
4. Joining Troughs
Your gutter system will be joined together and create seams. If you opt for seamless gutters, there will be fewer seams, but there will still be some around corners and the downspout. Seams can become weak points in a gutter system so they must be sealed tightly or they will leak. When planning the installation of sectional gutters, try to use as few seams as possible. Weld, solder, or seal the seams with adhesive to make them watertight.
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