What is guttering? In plain English, guttering is a pipe that follows the edge of your home’s roof, collects rainwater, and carries it away. Basically – it is a roofing protection system.
However, although no one can deny the importance of having gutters installed, it is even more important to have them installed properly. Incorrectly fitted gutters won’t be able to cope with stormwater and your water management system will actually start damaging the roof if the gutters end up filled with water every time it rains heavily.
To help you prevent overspills and dump and drain your roof effectively, we created this foolproof how-to-fit guttering guide. Note that the process may seem a bit overwhelming if you are not an experienced DIY-er and, just in case you still decide not to do this on your own, bear in mind that Groom n Co has a team of roofing specialists that can conduct the project for you.
Tools You’re Going to Use
- Ladders
- String
- Silicone lubricant
- Cordless screwdriver
- Hacksaw
- Level
- Pencil
Other than that, several other guttering components that you are going to need are:
- Gutter bends, brackets, and a union piece,
- Round guttering sections,
- External stop-ends,
- Stop-end gutter outlet.
Keep in mind that cast-iron guttering was a standard in the past century. However, nowadays, most gutters are made of uPVC which is much more lightweight and easier to work with.
How to Install Guttering Step-by-Step
- Take off your old guttering. If you have cast iron gutters, ask a family member, neighbour, or friend to help you with this task.
- Hang a plumb bob so that it comes down to the drain where the water from the downpipe will flow into.
- Use a pencil to mark where the gutter running outlet should be positioned and screwed into the fascia. Ideally, install the running outlet at a 50mm distance from the level of the roof.
- Drill a couple of holes using a drill or a cordless screwdriver and use the manufacturer-recommended fixings to attach the gutter running outlet to the fascia. Don’t overtighten the screws, otherwise, you may damage the fascia board.
- To ensure optimal gutter drainage, measure the distance from the gutter running outlet to the opposite end of the fascia. Then, position and fix a fascia bracket somewhere around 100mm far from the end of the fascia. Ideally, the bracket should be installed so that it is positioned higher than the gutter running outlet (increase the height by 3mm after every metre).
- Tie a string between the running outlet and the fascia bracket so that you can measure the fall. If it drops every 3mm per metre, you are good to go.
- Now is the time to install the rest of the brackets. Brackets should, again, follow the string, and the distance between each should be 1,000mm max.
- Lubricate the gutter seals using a silicone lubricant before you move on to the installation of the fittings. Lubricant will also act as extra leaking protection.
- Place the first part of the gutter on top of the gutter running outlet, push it down so that it snaps with the support bracket but still make sure not to apply excess pressure.
- Fit a union bracket into the first length of the gutter, then connect the second section of the gutter to it. Continue snapping gutters into bracket pipe clips.
- Once you come to the final section, install an external stop-end and you’re done.
Just in case you are wondering if you are allowed to cut gutters, the answer is – absolutely. In fact, there is a high chance that you’ll have to do this to be able to fit the last section into place. Measure the length and cut the excess part with the hacksaw to ensure a perfect fit.
Summary
Now that you know how to put up guttering, you can get to work right away. However, if you still think that hiring someone else to do this for you is a better idea, then make sure to contact us, Groom n Co.
We are proud to say that we are members of CORC (Confederation of Roofing Contractors), a community full of roofing experts and people with immense experience, and, thus, certainly know how to do guttering.
You can count on us when it comes to any type of guttering, soffits, and facias-related jobs. If you are located somewhere in Beckenham, Blackheath, Bromley, Orpington, or Chislehurst and need our help, make sure to contact us anytime.
