How to Measure Your Home for Gutters
A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Planning for the Perfect Gutter Job
Jun 30, 2009
Many contractors specialize in seamless gutter installation, but a relatively handy do-it-yourselfer can handle this project with a few basic tools and a little know-how.
Before you begin installing your own gutters, a little planning will go a long way toward helping the job turn out better both functionally and aesthetically.
Planning Downspout Placements
- Walk the perimeter of your house and determine where to place your downspouts. Keep in mind that you do not want to overload your gutters.
- For best results, do not empty more than 35 linear feet of gutter into any downspout.
- Do not drop a downspout onto a driveway or sidewalk or the surface of a roof if at all possible.
Once you have determined your downspout placements, you can temporarily mark them with painter’s tape to help you remember later.
Measuring Your Home for Gutters
- On a gable-roof straight run, measure from shingle to shingle and add a half-inch to each side.
- For outside corners, measure the total fascia length from corner to corner.
- For inside corners, subtract 5 inches to give room for the inside box miter.
Materials Needed for Your Gutter Job
- Gutters—each piece measured in feet and inches.
- Inside and outside box miters and gutter seal.
- Hidden hangers—one hanger for every 2 lineal feet, but be sure to place your first hanger around 6 inches from each end cap so the ends of the gutter are secured properly. If you have 100 lineal feet of gutters, for example, you may end up needing somewhere around 55 hangers.
- Left and right end caps.
- Downspouts and accessories—note how many 10-foot sections you’ll need, plus enough straps and elbows to do the job. A one-story downspout will require at least two straps, with at least one additional strap needed for each additional story.
- Screws and rivets—you will need screws long enough to attach the downspout straps to the house, plus zip screws or rivets to finish the downspouts and attach the miters to the gutters. Rivets are less conspicuous, but screws give you more flexibility to make changes later.
Once you have a complete material list, shop around to get the best prices. Many suppliers and gutter companies offer run-off services, and some will even come to your house to drop them off. With accurate measurements, you can have gutters run off to the exact length needed, saving you time and labor. Now that you have all your materials, our next article will guide you step-by-step through installation of your gutters.
The copyright of the article How to Measure Your Home for Gutters in Home Exteriors is owned by Jim Whitton. Permission to republish How to Measure Your Home for Gutters in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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