How to Replace a Gutter

Rain gutters can be damaged by rough weather, ice and debris. Usually, an occasional gutter cleaning will keep them in good working order. However, depending on the age and condition of the gutter, all or part of the gutter may need to be replaced at some time. These steps will help you with the task.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Sturdy leather gloves and safety goggles
• Gutter end caps
• Ladder
• Hammer
• Pry bar
• Hacksaw
• Clamp
• Silicone caulk
• Carpenter's pencil and square
• Garden trowels
• Circular saw
• Power drill, drill bits and nut-driving attachments
• Block of wood
• 3-inch galvanized deck screws
• 7-inch gutter screws
• 7-inch gutter spikes
• Gutter clips, elbow joints and seam sealer
• Flexible spout

1. Clean out any debris in the gutter using a garden trowel. Use a hammer and a pry bar to take out the old spikes connecting the gutter to the house. To prevent the gutter from being crushing while doing so, place a block of wood inside the gutter (especially if you're only replacing a section of the gutter).

2. Remove the fascia boards behind the gutter with the hammer and pry bar. They've probably been damaged from gutter leakage, so they will need to be replaced as well. Keep the old boards to use as a template for the new boards.

3. Cut new fascia boards with a circular saw using the old fascia board templates. To join boards together lengthwise, make a 45-degree angle cut at the ends of the boards by altering the blade on the circular saw.

4. Measure the length of new gutter and place marks where you plan to make the cuts. Mark the old gutter sections that need to be cut out as well. Use a hacksaw to make all cuts.

5. Connect the gutter end caps to the downspouts using gutter clips. Put some silicone caulk along the gutter elbow joints and fasten them together. Set the elbow joints aside. Give them plenty of time to dry before putting them up.

6. Fasten the new fascia boards that you made in Step 3 to the house with galvanized deck screws, spaced about every 12 inches. Take one of the bigger gutter sections and connect it so that there is a slight incline going to the downspout. Fasten a section of gutter to the new fascia boards with gutter clips and screws.

7. Take any remaining adjoined gutter sections and bring them up to the section you are replacing. Secure the seams and fasten with the clips. Run a bead of gutter seam sealer along the joint on the inside of the gutter.

8. Take 7-inch spikes and securely fasten each section of gutter. Make ¼ inch holes with a drill that go all the way through the lip of the gutter. The gutter spikes can now be put through the new holes, sheaths and the fascia board. Fasten tightly.

9. Take the elbow joints and connect the downspout. The flexible elbow joints will fit right into the downspout and should be sealed with gutter sealant so they won't come apart. Use brackets to fasten the downspout to wall.