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Gutter Installation

Your gutter system is one of the most important parts of your home’s exterior. It helps protect your roof, foundation, and landscaping from water damage and erosion. This is why hiring a professional gutter contractor may be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make.
Gutter Installation

Professional Vs. At-Home Installation

If you’re deciding between hiring a professional or doing it yourself, it’s important to carefully weigh all of the pros and cons. You should also ask yourself some key questions that can help make your decision a bit easier.

WEIGHING THE PROS & CONS

Is DIY Gutter Installation Worth It?

Before deciding on do-it-yourself gutter installation methods, lets first get an understanding of whether or not these key points are important to you. Do you have the right tools? Enough man-power to get the job done? Do you have the appropriate time to dedicate to the project? And lastly, is a warranty important to you?
The Right Tools
Do you have a large enough ladder, a cordless drill, tin snips, and a caulk gun? Installing gutters is rarely a one person job - you often need help to hold the gutter as you install it. Having another person also increases your safety, especially on tall ladders.
Time of Project
Installing gutters can also take a good portion of time. For example, 150 linear feet of gutter installation will take a professional about 7 hours. The average home has between 120 and 250 feet of gutters. If you are working alone, how long will it take you to do it yourself?
Importance of Warranty
A final thing to consider is that if you install gutters yourself, there is no warranty on the job. If something goes wrong, you will have that cost to deal with, too.

Storm Guard Makes It Easy

If you decide to hire a professional, you will have a crew at your disposal, not only to install but also to help you decide which gutter styles and systems are the best for your property. A professional gutter contractor will also be able to catch signs of damage that you may not have noticed. Plus, if your work is done by Storm Guard’s team of installers, our work comes with a warranty, so if anything goes wrong later you know you’re covered.
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How To Install Gutters

The gutter installation process involves multiple steps. Before you even get started on your installation, it’s important to have the right tools.
To install gutters, you would need:

The Right Tools

  • A cordless drill

  • A crimper.

  • This tool helps weld metal together.

  • Tin snips. This tool will trim the gutters as well as cut out patches for any holes.

  • Extension ladder. Gutters need to be installed from a ladder.

  • Hex head driver.

  • Level

  • Pop rivet gun. This tool will help connect the metal of your gutters together.

damaged roof with emergency roof tarp
Tarp on commercial roof

The Right Materials

  • Hex head screws.

  • Medium length rivets.

  • Downspouts. This is the part of the gutter system that goes down the side of the property and drains the water. When measuring for downspouts, add an additional four feet for the extension away from the house. This protects the foundation.

  • Gutter elbows. These are the curved parts of the gutter that lead to the downspout. Each downspout will require three elbows.

  • Your gutter segments, in whatever material you chose. Your roof should be measured to know what length of gutters you’ll need.

  • Flashing.

  • A gutter hanging strap. This allows the gutters to be secured both on the back of the gutter and to the top of the roof, for extra stability.

  • Gutter sealant.

The Install Process

The gutter installation process involves multiple steps. Before you even get started on your installation, it’s important to have the right tools. To install gutters, you would need:
1
Out with the old, in with the new.

Before new gutters can be installed, the old ones must be removed. After the old gutters have been taken off, the next step is to check the fascia and soffit for signs of rot or damage. If either of these are damaged, they will need to be replaced before installing the new gutters.

2
Measure twice, cut once.

Next, you need to measure carefully and outline where the new gutters are going to be installed. Gutters should be 1.25 inches below the flashing on the eaves. If your roof is longer than 40 feet, start with a chalk line in the center of the fascia and then extend to the left and to the right, with a slope going down each direction. If the roof is shorter than 40 feet, begin the chalk line on either side and then slope down. Your slope should go down 1/2 inch every 10 feet. Use the chalk line and level to indicate the slope. It’s also important to mark each rafter tail; this is where the fascia brackets will be attached.

3
The prep work isn't done yet.

Now that the gutter system is planned, it’s time to prepare for the installation. The downspout will need to be cut to size, attached to the outlet, and sealed. Then, end caps should be fitted to the gutters using rivets and sealant. After that, gutter sections are cut to size based on the measurements taken earlier in the process.

4
Time for install!

Once the gutters are assembled, they’re ready to be installed. Gutters should be attached to fascia brackets and to the rafter tail, then mounted. Your gutters should then be secured to both the fascia brackets and the fascia itself using machine screws. The last step is to attach the downspout and check for proper drainage.

Gutter Installation Costs

The national average cost of installing new gutters is $1,057. Installation costs are affected by the linear length of the gutters, how many stories tall your structure is, and the type of material used for the gutters. Labor will typically cost you between $5 and $7 per linear foot. Check out these numbers to get a rough estimate of how much your installation job will cost:

STYLES
K-style costs between $3 and $23 per linear foot, while half round costs between $4 and $25 per linear foot. Sectional gutters cost between $3 and $20 per linear foot, and seamless gutters cost between $4 and $30 per linear foot.
DOWNSPOUTS
Downspout material costs between $3 and $30 per linear foot and between $30 and $50 for installation.
HEIGHT OF HOME
Installation on a single-story home will cost $1,200 on average. Two or more stories will cost $2,000 or more.
MATERIAL
Vinyl gutters cost between $3 and $5 per linear foot, while aluminum gutters cost between $6 and $12 per linear foot. And copper costs between $25 and $40+ per linear foot.

Gutter Installation Near Me

If you’re ready to experience quality gutter installation, call Storm Guard! We offer a free gutter installation quote and will help you decide which gutter materials and style will work best for your property. Use our zip code locator to find your closest Storm Guard professional.
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