How To Hang Aluminum Gutters And Downspouts

Learn how to install or hang a rain gutter and downspout in under 5 minutes.
1. Snip the drip edge
The drip edge is a piece of metal that sits at the edge of a roof and transfers water from the roof into the gutter.
2. Shim the gutter under the drip edge
If your gutter is not installed behind the drip edge you will have water running behind your gutter. This will lead to fascia rot.
3. Fasten the gutter's high point
Every gutter should be hung with a slight pitch or slope to it. Sloping a gutter all starts with pushing one side of the rain gutter up. At high point, raise the gutter and put your first 1 1/2" gutter screw in.
4. Slope the gutter
Place a level inside of the seamless gutter and adjust until the gutter is slightly sloping towards the downspout. Once you get to the downspout make the gutter perfectly level. Screw in the remaining screws.
5. Install your gutter guards
In this demonstration, I am using 5" small hole self-locking gutter guards.
6. Measure your return arm
To measure a 3"x4" downspout's return arm you must measure from the back of the downspout hole to the house and subtract 7.
7. Make your return arm and straps
Use a miter saw with a metal cutting blade to cut your return arm and downspout straps.
Add your downspout elbows to your return arm piece. Remember, the downspout piece at the top always goes inside the piece below to avoid leaking.
Straps should be roughly 1 1/4" wide. Cut the back seam off of all your straps.
8. Install your downspouts return arm
Using 1/2" zip screws. Place a zip screw on both sides of the top elbow to fasten it to the gutter.
9. Messure for your downspout
To find the right length of a downspout measure from the ground to 2" inside the downspout piece above and then subtract 10".
10. Install straps and fasten the downspout
The final step to installing a gutter and downspout is to install your straps to the house using your 1 1/2" gutter hanging screws. Once the straps are fastened to the house fasten the downspout to the straps using you 1/2" zip screws.
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[@zandramangrum5483]

Holy moly, you were up high on that ladder. Great job explaining the process.

[@WesFromIndiana]

I see a lot of what I call "waterfall outlets" in my area on small sections of gutter. It's a small hole with and outside mounted ramp to guide the water out without adding in a downspout. Would love to see a how to on that.

[@chappellgutter]

Ahh very good topic. I like your name for "waterfall outlets". I definitely have some experience with these.
Another use:
We often use them where a gutter runs onto a roof. You can put these outlets on the gutter to push the water out past the fascia instead of all of it dumping right next to wood fascia boards.
Next time I make one of these. I will shoot a video.

[@poofypoopy8838]

Are there any decent gutter screws for the support brackets at the big box stores? I have all three near me.

[@chappellgutter]

Unsure. If you have 3 big box stores surely you have access to an exterior supply store. I would check with them first.