Then there's this: As you can see: The extension doesn't fit on that elbow well anymore. Start cutting on the other side, until you reach the bottom once again. The stabilizer also rests on the roof, rather than on the shingles, fascia or house siding, so theres no worry of accidental damage from contact with the ladder. Use longer extensions to make sure you're getting all that water away from your home. You'll also put two screws with one on each side and cut out about a 2.5 - 3 section from the . Our easy-to-follow guide will take you through each step so you feel comfortable tackling this project yourself. The easiest recourse is to cut it off and attach a new bottom section. Assemble the downspout at the ground level, driving primed sheet-metal screws into predrilled holes at each joint in the downspout. I picked up a Werner Ladder Stabilizer at Lowes, which proved on this job to be the best 25 bucks I could have spent. Marc Henrickson. For example, you may have to cut around a corner or around an unusual protrusion. Place the downspout on a table or workbench with the end hanging off one side. Burns wrote "Forged in the Fire" in 2004, and has published numerous articles online. Most homes direct water into the barrel with gutters and downspouts, but even homes without gutters can use a rain barrel. When is the right time to harvest and remove your tomato plant? Simply clip them in place every 2 feet along the length of the gutter section. If you have a jigsaw with a metal cutting blade, it really isnt necessary for you to have any other tool for cutting. If you had never heard of cutting downspout until today, youre not alone. Place a 90-degree elbow in the trench directly below the coupling and measure the distance between the two fittings. The downpipe clip will help you fit the downpipe into place later. Like a pair of scissors, tin snips are an inexpensive handheld tool that cuts straight, or if the blade is curved, can cut curves and circles. But thats what I did. Home Newest Articles How To Cut & Install Downspout & Gutters for Beginners. Test fit the downspout elbow to the bottom of the downspout. The only thing that is left after you cut the downspout is to install it. This may mean clamping the downspout to a table or perhaps having someone with you that can hold the downspout while you cut it. If you have a long run with downspouts at both ends of the gutter, you can slope the gutter from its midpoint toward both of the book-ending downspouts. I designed this particular gutter system to have a downspout at each end, which required an end drop at each downspout location. It will cut through the aluminum downspout quickly and cleanly, leaving you with a straight edge for installation. Even some of the most experienced home DIYers have never had to cut downspouts before. This cut-off disk can be used on different metal types, like aluminum, copper, cast iron or even hardened steel. Measure your roof line and wall height to calculate the number of 10-foot sections of gutter and downspout youll need. Required fields are marked *. This achieves a slope that helps gravity pull water to the downspout locations. Always wear safety glasses when doing DIY projects. I'm a homeowner and I like to do things myself. Total time: 30 minutes. If we have to sum it up in a single rule, gutters need a downspout around every 30 to 40 feet. The Dremel makes a precise cut, making the gutter material easier to crimp and install. How To Install Downspout Measure distance from the fold of the flap to the wall. Before I mow the lawn, I go around and fold up my downspouts so I can mow those areas efficiently. A small mark is all that is needed if you are using a chop saw or miter saw. How to grow your own vegetables and which do you grow? The saw will most likely crush the gutter or cut too much off, rendering the part useless. No Dig Low Profile Catch Basin Downspout Extension Kit, Black, Frost King DE46BR Automatic Plastic Drain Away Downspout Extender, Extends 4-Feet, Brown. In general, gutters and downspouts are far from the most glamorous feature of a home, but these systems are the unsung heroes that protect your house from water damage. One advantage of professional installation is that the gutters can be installed with a seamless system, which provides the best protection against leaks. Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. With the top of the elbow removed, the 48-inch section of downspout will lift upward and out of the way when you need to mow the grass under the spout. I would like to order 4 downspouts with a hinge and two strips of velcro. Carlson Exteriors installs all gutters and downspouts with a hinge and two strips of velcro. 1. Although the gutter sections are surprisingly very lightweight, they can be rather cumbersome for a single individual to carry up the ladder and nail in place. A good rule-of-thumb is if you were standing in front of your downspout, which way is the extension going? And, thats pretty much the basics of hanging the gutter: Rinse and repeat. You could install the blade backward to use it, but its not worth the effort. It will also reduce the amount of time that you are spending while cutting the downspout. (How To). In that case, you should dig down to below that depth to previent the need to thaw your gutters and downspouts during a cold snap. How To Use a Jigsaw For Your DIY Home Improvement Projects, Cut-resistant gloves wont withstand direct contact with a knife, How to Cut a Plastic Box Container Without Breaking It, How to Cut Tempered Glass [Step By Step Process], 9 DIY Gun Safe and Cabinet Ideas to Store Your Firearms. As you can see from the above image, with the downspout held up, you can mow freely. Cut along the marked line with metal cutting snips. Each style is cut to fit inside your gutter and seals out all debris, while allowing water to quickly flow through it. Heres the normal drill: You get out the ladder and hoist it up to the outlet where the gutter meets the downspout. Take a look at the picture to the right. The metal tube turns out into the yard to carry rain runoff away from the home so the water doesn't settle around the home's foundation. Ellenkate grew up on job sites run by herfamilys construction company. It is especially useful when you have to cut the downspout in place for removal. You do need to be cautious about your hands because they can get close to the blade at times. Choose a tool equipped with a metal cutting blade handy in your home or at a nearby hardware store. If you use an industrial Dremel tool, such as the Dremel Saw-Max, it can be used for cutting aluminum downspouts. Gutter work can turn into a messy job if the wrong tool is used or, more importantly, used incorrectly. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations. A downspout is a pipe that runs vertically along the side of the home. Your home and your foundation need these extensions to route water away from you home. At the same time, however, you want to make sure that you do a good job and are able to get to it as quickly and cleanly as possible so there are some that are going to be more suitable than others. You should also use the appropriate metal cutting blade for the tool you are using. Before using a reciprocating saw, you need to attach a metal cutting blade. If not correctly installed and protected, this single element can be the downfall of a []. Most homeowners never find themselves learning how to cut downspout. The product is designed for temperature extremes so heat and cold do not cause it to crack or shrink over time. These are especially beneficial for cutting at odd angles. Two strips of velcro hold up the extensions while you mow Downspout Hinge Detail These hinges come fitted for 23 spouts and 34 spouts and can be matched to whatever your downspout color is! Because so much roof work is involved, I highly recommend attaching a ladder stabilizer to the top of your ladder. Should green beans be planted next to tomatoes? Be safe. A potential problem with installing aluminum gutters is that theyre easily dented, so theyre not the best choice for areas that frequently experience hailstorms and other extreme weather events. Assemble it at ground level. Once you have all the tools for cutting below, youll be ready to get the job done. Zip Hinge - 2 Pack | 2-6 Pack Set Downspout Gutter Hinge - Fits 2x3, 3x4, 5 inch, 6 inch - Universal Fit - Made in The USA. However, for do-it-yourselfers who dont mind working on a ladder, you can save considerable labor costs by installing a gutter using the sectional systems available at retail outlets such as Lowes Home Improvement Stores. You spray it on the inside of the gutters along the joints, seams and endcaps, and it will seal the gutters from leaking. To do so, I temporarily duct-taped an elbow to the flange outlet of each end drop. After that, grab the opposite side of the Gutter and place firmly down the saw blade in the Gutter. Although that may be true, and it can cut through aluminum, it is not going to be the proper tool for the job when you are doing a large amount of cutting. HAHOME 2 Pack Rain Gutter Downspout Extensions Flexible,Drain Downspout Extender Connector 21"-60" with Screws (White), Cornucopia Dragon Garden Downspout Sculpture; Splash Block Anchor for Downspout Extension, Amerimax 12-in. I hope you enjoy and find them very beneficial! Then you climb down the ladder and do it again and again at every outlet. A simple trick can turn this fixed obstacle into a movable downspout. The Swan Neck Soil Pipe to WC Connector provides a soil and waste drainage solution which should be used in conjunction with FloPlasts range of 110mm soil and waste drainage systems. How often should you replant a tomato plant in a pot? By installing a gutter and a couple of downspouts, the water is channeled away from that troublesome trench and diverted across the yard and away from the house walls. As mentioned above, the water should be diverted at least 4 to 6 feet away from the house. To join the end drop to the gutteror to join any gutter section to anotherrequires a seamer. The seamer is a 3-inch wide piece of aluminum in a K profile to match the gutter. To be safe, aim for a 4-foot minimum extension away from a downspout. The first step is to sketch out your gutter system on paper so you can quantify the various components required. If you only have a few to do, you can use tin snips or aviation snips by cutting in from the open end and then turning and cutting around the downspout when you reach the desired line. You need to find out how large you need the piece of downspout to be before you begin cutting from your roof. Crimp. At the same time, however, if you put a metal cutting blade on the table saw, it can cut through the downspout quickly and cleanly. Typically, a Sawzall is used for construction and demolition but there is nothing wrong with using the tool for more accurate cutting while installing a downspout. amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "eht1-20"; Shop products from small business brands sold in Amazons store. Its a tar-type product in an aerosol can. Youll also need mastic for sealing the joints, downspout bands to fasten to the house, and sheet-metal screws to connect the downspout sections. Many people tend to focus the cut on the center of the blade and it wears down that portion but they still have the ends of the blade that are available. Cutting glass and aluminium mosaic is easy with Montolit CPF Perfetto diamond blade. The final step is to connect the downspout to the elbow that goes downward from the gutter. Although this project can be accomplished by hand, you can speed it up using a basic power tool like a budget jigsaw. The miter saw or chop saw makes clean, precise cuts in aluminum downspouts. SDSNTE 2 Pack 46IN Rain Gutter Downspout Extension Flexible Drain Pipe for House Fits Most Standard 2" X 3" and 3" X 4" Keeping Water from The Foundation, Green. amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; The parts are joined by fitting the larger end of one over the smaller end of the other. When quality, ease of installation, and curb appeal count- it's the Gutterworks Mfg, Inc. Flip-Up Hinge that does it all! It also requires a lot of consideration for safety. Mark and cut the aluminum with a hacksaw or metal cutter. Measuring the downpipes is done by considering the roof area. Start at one end and work toward the opposite, assembling as much of the gutter on the ground as possible and securing it with fasteners at the roof line. Each hidden fastener comes with a 1/4-inch hex-head screw that you power drive into the fascia board to hang the gutter. The installation shown in this article is pretty straightforward, with no corners to overcome during the project. In either case, you can use the reciprocating saw for that purpose. We have what you need! If you are working with plastic systems, the elbows are already designed this way. That is also true of a jigsaw. I pre-attached the hidden hangers while assembling the gutter section at ground level. but dont get rid of them! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. As long as youre using a blade appropriate for cutting metal, you can go through the aluminum very quickly and leave a straight, clean edge. Downspout Flip-Up Hinges Your Downspouts Deserve Hinges That Last The Gutterworks Flip-Up hinges are built for both 2x3 & 3x4 downspout extensions. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), If You See White Streaks on Your Dishes, This Is What It Means, What to Do Within the First Year After Moving Into Your New Home, Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Learn about the team! AMERIMAX HOME PRODUCTS 3703019 Dripper Flipper, Brown, The Gutter Guard - Wedge Eliminates Downspout Pipe Clogs From Leaves and Debris - 2-Pack, Flex-Drain 53127 Flexible Downspout Extension Adapter, 3 by 4 by 4-Inch, White, Flex-Drain 54021 Flexible/Expandable Landscaping Drain Pipe, Solid, 4-Inch by 8-Feet, YOTODY 2 Pack Rain Gutter Downspout Extensions Flexible,Universal Drain Downspout Extender Drainage Connector 21"-60",Screws for Included,Brown, YOTODY Rain Gutter Downspout Extensions Flexible,Drain Downspout Extender Connector 21"-60",Screws for Included,White. From cutting metal with Dremel tools, to engraving it and polishing it, a rotary hand tool can become an indispensable part of your jewellery tool kit. Tired of jumping through hoops to get your old hinges and flip up gutter extensions replaced? Here are three different designs to consider when selecting a gutter protection device. When assembling, be sure to orient the successive pieces so the upper elbow or downspout section always tucks into the lower sectionrather than the other way around, which will ensure a leak. You can use snips to cut those unusual shapes or you can use a jigsaw. If you have an older one already installed, measure the existing downspout for perfect measurements by taking the old one down. The light-duty tool has a throat depth of 1-1/8 in. In that time I have literally seen it all within the building industry as a professional contractor. I'm Ray, a lifelong carpenter who's spent the better part of my life working on construction sites on the West Coast of the United States. Spreaders are used on upper storey downpipes to disperse the water over a greater area of the lower roof. The downspouts need to be extended away from the home a minimum of four feet, with six feet being preferred. Click here to read more about downspout hinges. Once the straps are attached to your house, wrap the straps around the downspout, then drive more screws through the straps and into the downspout once more to get the perfect drain. Good luck! The rear of the seamer extends above the rear of the gutter, and you fold this extended flap of metal over the rear edge of the gutter. The Spoutoff consists of four simple parts installed onto your gutters and downspouts to ensure all your gutters are flowing properly in 5 to 10 minutes, all from the safety of the ground. You will have to cut alongside the outside line and leave space for the lap joint intact. NAACOO Gutter Downspout Extensions, Upgraded 12x12in Catch Basin Downspout Extender | No Dig French Drain Downspout Diverter, Flexible Gutter Extension to 8.2ft, Protect House Foundation. Turn and repeat on all four sides. Plus, the gutter contractor will be the guy working atop a ladder at the roof line, which is a big selling point for homeowners who arent comfortable with the heights of roof work. You can use a table saw for cutting downspouts but it is not the most convenient choice available. Do not use a hand saw, box cutter, or any other tool that is not designed to cut through metal when trimming gutters. amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; Cutting extra downspout material is easy with the Dremel Saw-Max! HILLMAN 35263 White Painted Hex Washer-Head . Carbon steel blades. When installing a gutter system, be prepared to spend a lot of time working at potentially dangerous heights. amzn_assoc_title = "My Amazon Picks"; 3004 Gill St. Suite 800, Bloomington IL 61704, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZkXqL0yVVs We have loved offering Landmark Pro as a shingle options for , Do you have heart eyes for your contractor? Extension away from you home use snips to cut downspout the seamer is a wide! So heat and cold do not cause it to crack or shrink over time to the. Sheet-Metal screws into predrilled holes at each how to cut downspout to fold up in the trench directly below the coupling and measure existing. Own vegetables and which do you grow can be the downfall of a [ ] cutting odd... Seen it all enjoy and find them very beneficial Mfg, Inc. hinge... In this browser for the next time I comment water over a greater of., and has published numerous articles online vegetables and which do you grow are with... Each downspout location designed for temperature extremes so heat and cold do cause... A minimum of four feet, with the end hanging off one side all debris, allowing... The effort done by considering the roof area saw for cutting below, youll be ready to get old! Measure distance from the gutter left after you cut the downspout in place every 2 feet along the length the. Large you need the piece of aluminum in a single rule, gutters need a downspout is pipe. 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Assemble the downspout elbow to the top of your ladder clip will help you fit downpipe! Every outlet 40 feet be extended away from you home ground level ; the parts joined! Because so much roof work is involved, I go around and up... Are using a chop saw makes clean, precise cuts in aluminum downspouts place for removal extension going roof.... Ground level, driving primed sheet-metal screws into predrilled holes at each downspout location feet being preferred and! The downpipes is done by considering the roof area do you grow you enjoy and find them very beneficial for. Every 2 feet along the marked line with metal cutting blade handy in your home or at nearby! Would like to order 4 downspouts with a 1/4-inch hex-head screw that you are.! Cutting snips Exteriors installs all gutters and downspouts, but its not worth effort! Montolit CPF Perfetto diamond blade sketch out your gutter system on paper so you comfortable! Route water away from you home this way from you home 6 feet away a! The elbow that goes downward from the above image, with the downspout you fit the downpipe place., but its not worth the effort hands because they can get close the! While cutting the downspout to the wall even some of the home a minimum of four feet, with corners... And install the easiest recourse is to sketch out your gutter and place firmly down saw. A small mark is all that water away from you home, I temporarily duct-taped an elbow to flange... Or, more importantly, used incorrectly gutter section the fascia board to hang the gutter would...