Installing a PVC Gutter
Replacing your homes gutters with new PVC gutters not only improves the look of your home, it also helps to protect its siding and foundation from adverse effects caused by the weather. With the help of a friend, the proper tools and materials, you will have your new PVC gutters up in no time at all, as they are among the easiest to install and also one of the least expensive.
You will need:
- Ladder
- Chalk line
- Levels, both string and carpenter
- Tape measure
- Power drill and drill bits
- Fine tooth hacksaw
- Galvanized, or rust-resistant, screws
- PVC gutters
- Hangers
- Connectors
- Elbows
- Downspouts
- Drop outlets
- Corners
Design your PVC gutter system:
- Gutters must be positioned a specific way in order for them to catch rain water, whether from a downpour or just a rain shower.
- The edge of the roof should stick out to about the middle of the gutter and the gutter must also be sloped from end to end so that the water will flow to the downspouts and then away from the homes foundation.
- Decide where you want to direct the water that is coming out of the downspout. It is a good idea to have it come out on a hard surface, such as a driveway. It should also be directed away from your house and your neighbors houses.
- Measure the edges of your roof. Generally, PVC gutters come in ten-foot sections. Use these measurements, as well as an outline of the house to decide what pieces you will need and how many you will need.
Installing your PVC gutters:
- Measure in about a 1/2" from the end of the gutter that is away from the downspout and make a mark. Move to the end of the gutter with the downspout and measure the same distance and mark it. The two marks should be level.
- Gutters have to slope so that the rainwater they catch is directed to the downspout. It should slope about 5/8" for every ten feet. Make your marks using this measurement, starting with the mark you had already made, and then make a guideline using your chalk line. This line will show you where you need to install your gutter components.
- Climb your ladder and begin to install the components of your gutter system. Start with the corners and drop outlets. Make sure that you install the drop outlets on the lower end of the gutters.
- Install the brackets. They should be positioned about every 2 feet. Make sure that the screws you use are rust-resistant and that the brackets are located along the guideline you made with your chalk line.
- Snap each section of gutter into the brackets and join the sections together using connectors. Make sure you follow the specific manufacturer's instructions to allow for expansion and contraction of your gutters. When finishing a section, you may need to cut the gutter piece so it is less than 10 feet. If this is necessary, use a hacksaw and be sure to wear safety goggles.
- Place the elbows on the bottom of the drop outlets. Cut sections of the downspout so that they fit, and fasten them securely to the side of your home.
- Place another elbow section at the bottom of the downspout. Make sure it is placed so that it directs water away from your home.