How to Install Rain Gutters
Rain gutters help to maintain the structural integrity of your home by directing rainwater away from the foundation. Improper routine maintenance or severe weather can deteriorate your gutter systems overtime. Poor installation could result in an improperly functioning system, leading to leakage that could cause damage to your home’s foundation. We always recommend hiring a professional to handle gutter installations, but the following tips may provide some insight into the gutter installation process:
Rain Gutter Sizing
To determine what gutter size you will need, you must first measure the square footage of the gutter’s drainage area. For a straightforward, gable-end roof, you will only need to make two calculations – one per slope. Intersecting roofs require more measurements, as you must add up the area of each surface in the drainage area.
Once you have determined the square footage, you will need to adjust for roof-pitch factor and rainfall intensity. Victoria weather requires larger gutter sizes in order to avoid overwhelm from large rainfall.
Downspout Positioning
The placement of downspouts is critical to avoiding water seepage into your basement. Downspout positioning should be determined before gutter installation in order to understand the direction in which gutters should be angled. As a general rule, at least one downspout should be placed for every 40 linear feet of gutter. If possible, try to place downspouts near the corners of your gutters.
Chalk Line Snapping
The angle in which your gutters are placed is important in allowing for proper downflow of rain water into the downspout. One way to precisely measure this angle is by chalk line snapping.
Place one end of a chalked line on your fascia board and have someone run the line to where your downspout will be. Measure from the roof edge in order to ensure the downspout end of the line is ¼” below the high end of the line for every 20 feet of gutter run. Have someone pull on the chalk line while you hold both ends down. Once released, the line will snap into place, providing an ideal alignment for the rain gutter.
Tight Seals
Proper sealing is necessary in order to avoid leakage and moisture damage. After sealing gutter pieces and downspouts together – and once the sealant has dried – always test the seal yourself with water to ensure soundness.
Expert Gutter Installation in Victoria
Rain gutters are incredibly important in maintaining your home’s condition. A professional gutter installation requires years of experience and can save you a great deal in repair costs down the line.
Network Exteriors is happy to provide gutter installation services in Victoria. Learn more about our gutter installation services here, or contact us today to obtain a free quote.