Our Guide for Installing and Cleaning Rain Gutters
Roof Pros Quick Guide for Installing & Cleaning Gutters
Rain gutters do an excellent job of directing rainwater away from your home, ensuring it doesn’t seep into your foundation and cause extensive water damage. However, these valuable components need maintenance from time to time to ensure they’re in good shape and working as intended. Sometimes, they’ll need a replacement, especially if they’re rusted, bent, or pulling away from your home.
Installing rain gutters may seem like an intimidating prospect. It’s best to leave this to reputable roofing contractors to ensure you achieve a seamless gutter installation. Still, it is highly recommended to familiarize yourself with the process to understand what goes into gutter installation and cleaning.
How to Install Rain Gutters
Rain gutters are essential for funneling rainwater on your roof elsewhere, like on nearby grass. If you spot water puddles near your doors or on walking paths by your home, then you’ll need to install gutters. Here’s how to do it:
- Measure
The first thing to do is measure your roof’s length, as you’ll need to make sure your gutters will fit across the whole length of your house and end with a downspout. Add a few inches to the size you measure to ensure that you have lots of gutter space for your home and prevent the possibility of uneven gutters and stagnant water. You can also cut off the excess material. - Mark the Position of the Gutter
Gutters must tilt slightly downwards towards the downspout to direct rainwater away from your home. Otherwise, it will remain in the gutter, eventually becoming overfull and pulling away from your roof. For this reason, you’ll have to start at the top, below the eaves, and mark your gutter’s position there. Then, use a half-inch downward slope and note it with a chalk line, giving you a clear guide on where to mount your gutter. Mark a point half an inch lower every ten feet. - Install the Downspout
Installing the downspout can be challenging, so it’s best to get your hands on a pre-cut one. In this case, you’ll need to glue the downspout and screw it into the brackets. The downspout will redirect the water and control the area it will be released onto the ground, so you must factor this in when attaching your downspout. - Affix the Gutter
Connect the end cap to the gutter with screws and a silicone sealant. Then, cut the gutters to fit your roof and affix the gutter’s brackets to the rafter tails. Mount the gutters on the brackets, and you’re done.
How to Clean Rain Gutters
Cleaning the gutters involves a lot of elbow grease and dirt, which is why most people don’t look forward to it. You can also entrust this to local roofing contractors. However, if you’re interested in knowing the process, here are the steps to clean your gutters:
- Position Your Ladder
Get a ladder and put it safely below the roof’s edge, particularly where your gutter starts. Ensure your ladder is steady and stable and it is on even ground. If the ground is muddy, wait until it hardens and dries before putting your ladder on it. You can also put a base on top of the ground with a large piece of plywood to stabilize your ladder. - Wear Your Gear and Start Scooping
Wear long sleeves and gloves to protect you from the harmful bacteria that you’ll likely encounter when cleaning your gutters. Use a gutter scoop to dig the dirt and debris out of your gutter, dropping it in a bucket or tarp next to your ladder. - Flush Your Gutters
Once you’ve cleaned your gutters, use a garden hose to flush out any remaining dirt. Spray along the pipe until you reach the downspout, where you’ll have to spray thoroughly and ensure it’s free of junk.
Conclusion
Rain gutters play a critical role in keeping your home safe. By having roofing contractors inspect these components and maintain them, they’ll continue working as they should, saving you from expensive repairs and replacements.
Looking for a gutter installation contractor near you? Roof Pros are experts in Seamless Gutter Installation, Roofing Installation and Siding Installation. Receive a free quote by filling out our free online quote request.
