The most obvious benefit of installing rain gutters is that gutters will funnel water off and away from your home. This prevents the water from getting into your home through the roof, windows and doors and will also prevent your fascia boards from rotting.
Other Benefits of Having Rain Gutters Installed
Gutters will keep your exterior walls clean because dirt will not be splashed against them when it rains. There are some indirect benefits as well. Gutters will keep water that comes onto contact with your foundation away from it when it rains. Because of this the soil that surrounds your foundation will not be able to expand and contract making the base of your home stable. Even light rainfall can produce a sheet of water that runs off the edge of the roof. Gutters will also prevent the erosion of the topsoil around your home which will also help with the strength of your homes foundation. Gutters are also great at protecting the plants around the outside of your home. When heavy rains come down the runoff can be harmful. If you like the idea of collecting runoff into barrels you can use it water your plants for free. This will reduce your carbon footprint and save you some money! Due to hydrostatic pressure, water that is allowed to continue to saturate the ground above the basement will eventually flood into the basement. There don’t even need to be cracks for sitting water to soak through to the basement wall. This can result in a buckled foundation and costly repairs.
Steps for Gutter Installation
1. You need to calculate and purchase as least the total length of the gutters you will need and the right number of downspouts and attachment brackets.
2. Snap a chalk line to measure the layout.
3. Cut all the gutters to size using a hacksaw or heavy duty snips to cut at the marked measurements.
4. Secure the gutter brackets. They will either be snapped onto place or mounted into the face board.
5. Mark the location where the downspout opening will be in the gutter and use a jigsaw to cut a square opening at the right place in the gutter.
6. Secure the downspout connect and end cap to the gutter using a silicone sealant and short metal screws. Endcaps should be used wherever there is an open-ended run of gutter.
7. Mount the gutters to the face board every 18 to 24 inches.
8. Attach the downspout to the gutters through the downspout connector. The tapered ends need to be facing down and pointed in the right direction.
9. Finally, use a heavy bead of sealant and allow it to dry overnight to seal all gutter connections.
Preparing for Gutter Installation & Replacement
The type of gutters you choose will make installation slightly different. Fascia boards should be painted before attaching new gutters. Trim back long sections of roofing felt to lip into the gutter making sure they don’t obstruct the low of water. When the gutter installation is complete, pour a bottle of water into the highest point to ensure everything is working smoothly.
Gutter Installation in Truckee, Mystic, Floriston, Olympic Valley, Alpine Meadows, Tahoe City, Dollar Point, Ridgewood, Carnelian Bay, Kings Beach, Eder, Norden, Soda Springs & The North Lake Tahoe Basin of California
Rain gutters offer many benefits. Have them professionally installed. Call Nickerson Roofing today. We recommend 18 gauge welded steel guttering to hold up to the snow and harsh weather conditions in The North Lake Tahoe Basin of California.
