Damaged or improperly working rain gutters can not only be an inconvenience but can also cause serious problems to your house. Rain gutters are important for the proper drainage of water and can prevent problems such as damage to the foundation, unsightly stains to your siding, ice damage and flooded basements. Today, we are going through the steps that are necessary for the proper replacement of rain gutters and what you will need to get the job done.
Step One: Gather the proper tools. You are going to need a few readily available tools to help you get this job done right. You are going to need a garden trowel, a hammer, seven inch spikes, a hacksaw, new fascia boards, a pry bar, galvanized deck screws, a tape measure and new guttering. You will also need a circular saw to cut the new fascia boards to the proper size and a marker to mark off measurements.
Step Two: Before you start work on removing the old gutters, you first have to make sure that all debris is removed from them. Using a garden trowel carefully remove all the debris from the gutter and discard. Since gutters are easily damaged, it is also advisable to place a piece of wood in them before you try to remove them. This is a preventative precaution that prevents the gutters from being crushed while they are being removed. After you have completed this step, then use your hammer and pry bar to pull out the old spikes that connected the guttering to your house.
Step Three: Since the fascia boards behind the guttering have probably been damaged from water leakage, they probably need to be replaced. With a hammer and pry bar, gently pry the fascia boards from behind the gutter and remove that section. Do not discard these boards, however, because they will be used as a template for cutting the new fascia boards.
Step Four: Using your circular saw it’s time to cut new fascia boards. This is where the old boards come in handy. Using them as a template you can cut the new boards to the exact dimensions that are required for the job. Since the boards have to be joined lengthwise, change the angle of the circular saw’s blade to make the forty-five degree cuts that are required.
Step Five: Now its time to measure the new guttering and place marks where you plan on making cuts. You will also want to mark the old gutter sections that need to be cut as well. Since rain gutters are made of lightweight metal they can be easily cut with a hacksaw.
Step Six: Attach your gutter end caps to the downspouts using guttering clips. This is also a good time to caulk the elbow joints using a silicone-based caulk. After you have applied the caulk, set them aside and give them plenty of time to dry before they are installed. I would recommend at least a couple of hours before you proceed to the next step.
Step Seven: Now it’s time to install the fascia boards that you have cut. Install them using the galvanized deck screws and attach them to the house at an interval of about every twelve inches. After the fascia boards have been installed, use screws and gutter clips to install the guttering, a piece at a time.
Step Eight: Secure the sections of guttering using the seven inch spikes and make sure that it is secure. Make quarter inch incisions to the gutter lip and put the spikes through these holes. After you have properly secured them, then apply gutter sealent to the inside seam of the gutter in a thin bead to prevent water leaking out of them.
Step Nine: The final step is to connect the elbow joints to the downspout. The elbow joints are very flexible and should easily slip into the downspout. After you have installed the downspouts, seal them with gutter sealant. You can then attach the downspout to the wall and complete the job.
