Can I put up my own gutters?

Category: home and garden indoor environmental quality
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Gutter replacement, which involves installing your own rain gutters can save you substantially over professionally installed gutters, but there are a few pitfalls to watch out for. Inspect the fascia and soffit (Fig. B) for signs of rotted wood, which will need to be replaced before you put up the rain gutters.



Correspondingly, is it easy to install your own gutters?

Plus, hanging gutters is not as easy as it may appear. If you install gutters with too steep or gentle a pitch, the runoff water won't flow properly to your downspouts. A reputable gutter contractor has the experience to install gutters perfectly the first time.

Subsequently, question is, do you need permit to install gutters? Permits are generally not required for routine maintenance. This includes things like recaulking your windows, upgrading light fixtures and installing ceiling fans. Fortunately, a permit is also not required to install new gutters or add top-rated gutter guards from Gutter Helmet® to your existing gutter system.

Furthermore, how much does it cost to install gutters yourself?

Vinyl gutters cost about $3 to $5 per linear foot. Metal gutters range in price: aluminum costs $6 to $12, steel $9 to $20, and copper $25 to $40 or more. Installing gutters for an entire home can cost anywhere between $600 and $2,400. The national average is between $850 and $1,000 for approximately 200 feet.

Do you install gutters under drip edge?

If your gutter has been previously installed, rather than taking it down and redoing it, you can easily place a small strip of metal flashing under the drip edge and over the back of the gutter (as shown by the illustration at the bottom of this page) so the water will shed into the gutter.

39 Related Question Answers Found

Which is better vinyl or aluminum gutters?

Unfortunately, although the vinyl is much less expensive than aluminum, it also does not have nearly as long of a lifespan. The last difference is the fact that vinyl gutters are installed in sections, but aluminum gutters are seamless. Therefore, aluminum gutters are less prone to leak.

Is drip edge necessary?

Without a drip edge, water may end up beneath the shingles and may cause damage to various parts of the home. Though your home may not have originally had a drip edge installed, drip edges are now required by most building codes across North America to protect homes from damage.

Does Home Depot sell gutters?

Vinyl - Gutter Systems - Roofing & Gutters - The Home Depot.

How do you install gutters without fascia?


A house without fascia needs to have gutters set up using roof straps. The roof straps are fitted to the hanger in the gutter and attached directly to the roof. If the roof is ancient, then it would be wise not to lift up the shingles in a bid to reach the strap under, because it could rupture or break the shingle.

How do you install drip edge?

Install roof drip edge along the eaves, add underlayment, then place drip edge along the gable end. The best way is to install the roof drip edge only along the eaves first, then place ice-and-water barrier (in the snowbelt) or felt paper (underlayment) over the drip edge.

How do you install flashing gutters?

Slide the ribbed end of the gutter flashing underneath the shingles, and insert a 1-inch roofing nail every 16 inches down the center of the gutter flashing with a hammer. Nail the bent side of the flashing over the gutter at the same 16-inch locations down the entire piece.

How many downspouts do I need?

How Many Downspouts Do I Need? A general rule of thumb is one downspout per 20 feet of guttering, but more may be necessary depending on the local weather, the size of the drainage area and the design of the gutter system.

Can you use PVC pipe for gutters?

PVC Downspouts
In place of aluminum downspouts for your gutters, consider using simple PVC pipe. Pipe with a diameter of 1 1/2 inches should fit nicely on the bottom of existing gutter systems, and can be screwed into the wall using PVC pipe hangers.

What size gutters do I need?


The most common gutter sizes are 5 inches and 6 inches, although 4 inches is available as well. Downspouts are commonly 2 x 3 inches and 3 x 4 inches in size or 3 or 4 inches in diameter. When determining the size of a home's gutter system, a homeowner should consider the area's rainfall density.

How much should 6 inch gutters cost?

The average cost to install 175 feet of seamless aluminum gutters with six downspouts and six corners is $1,650 to $2,475, or between $6 and $15 per foot.

Average Seamless Gutters Cost.
Type Cost Per Foot Installed Total Cost Installed
Aluminum $6 – $15 $1,650 – $2,475
Copper $17 – $35 $3,750 – $5,625

What happens if you don't have gutters?

If rain flows off your roof because you have no gutters, the water causes massive erosion, washing away more and more soil each time it rains. This causes your carefully sloped landscape to wear down, allowing runoff to flow toward your home instead of away from it. Erosion also causes the foundation to settle.

Does Lowes do gutter installation?

Gutter Install. Safeguard and improve the look of your home with high quality gutters. Have Lowe's professionals install it by calling 1-800-GO-LOWES.

Which type of gutter is best?

Stainless Steel Gutters. Vinyl and aluminum gutters are considered two of the best types of gutters because they are cost efficient, meaning that for what they cost, they do their job well.

Why are my gutters leaking?


Improperly Sloped Gutters
Water runs down the slope to the downspout. If the slope isn't set up right originally or the gutters have sagged over time, either due to aging of the home or being too full of debris, water pools in the gutter. Over time, gutters begin to corrode and rust and you'll end up with a leak.

Is it cheaper to install gutters yourself?

There are also vinyl gutters which are much easier to install, and which run at roughly $3 to $5 per linear foot. Therefore, installing from 125 to 200 feet of gutters will cost $1050-$2400. These prices, however, tend to apply strictly to the DIY homeowners.

Do you really need gutters on a house?

But most homes do need a good rain gutter system to collect the storm water that lands on the roof and direct it away from the house to prevent damage to the structure of your home and to protect your foundation and driveway and sidewalk from pooling water on the sides of your home.