Can I Install Gutters Myself? What DIY Really Involves

What you can realistically DIY

• Sectional vinyl or aluminum gutters on a single-story house, garage, shed or porch.
• Adding downspout extensions, splash blocks and simple drainage.
• Replacing a damaged section on an existing sectional system.
• Snap-in gutter guards on single-story gutters.

What is not realistic for most homeowners: seamless gutters, which are roll-formed on site with a machine (Angi notes that seamless installation requires a professional, and that DIY can void warranties, Angi, seamless gutters cost), two-story and steep-roof work, and jobs that start with rotted fascia.

Tools and materials

• Gutter sections, inside and outside corners, end caps, outlets (drop outlets), downspouts, elbows and straps.
• Hidden hangers and screws long enough to reach solid wood.
• Gutter sealant, pop rivets and a rivet gun.
• Tin snips, a hacksaw or fine-tooth blade, a drill and driver.
• Chalk line, level and tape measure.
• A stable ladder with a standoff, gloves and eye protection.

The basic steps

1. Measure each eave and plan downspout locations where water can be carried away from the house.
2. Check the fascia. Soft wood must be repaired before anything is hung.
3. Snap a chalk line for pitch. Mark the high end just below the drip edge and the low end at the outlet, with a steady fall. A common rule of thumb is about a quarter inch per 10 feet; long runs often slope both ways from the middle.
4. Assemble on the ground as much as possible: cut lengths, attach end caps, cut outlet holes and attach outlets, rivet and seal.
5. Hang the gutter on hidden hangers along the chalk line, screwed into solid wood at regular spacing (closer spacing is stronger).
6. Join sections with connectors, overlapping in the direction of flow, riveted and sealed.
7. Attach downspouts with elbows at the top, straps on the wall and an extension or splash block at the bottom.
8. Water-test each run with a hose and fix any drips or puddles.

Mistakes DIYers commonly make

• Too little or too much slope. Too little leaves standing water; too much looks crooked and can push water over the end.
• Hanging below the drip edge with a gap, so water runs behind the gutter.
• Too few downspouts, especially on long runs.
• Fastening into rotted wood, so the gutter pulls loose in the first storm.
• Overlapping joints the wrong way, so water flows against the seam.
• Short downspout discharge right next to the foundation. Where expansive soils are known to exist, the residential code calls for at least 5 feet from foundation walls (ICC, 2018 International Residential Code, Section R801.3 roof drainage).

Safety

Gutter installation means hours on a ladder carrying long, awkward pieces. CDC NIOSH reports more than 500,000 people treated and about 300 deaths each year in the U.S. from ladder-related injuries (CDC NIOSH, National Ladder Safety Month). Work with a helper, use a standoff, keep away from power lines and skip windy days. See ladder safety.

DIY vs. professional: honest trade-offs

HomeGuide notes vinyl gutters are the lowest-cost material but can become brittle in extreme cold and fade in harsh sun (HomeGuide, gutter installation cost), worth weighing in Kansas weather.

When to hire it out

• Two-story or steep roofs.
• Long eaves where you want seamless runs.
• Rotted fascia or a missing drip edge.
• Complex roofs with valleys and multiple levels.
• Copper, steel or heavy-gauge systems.

See gutter installation for what a professional install involves.

Permits and rules

Gutters are not named in the permit exemption list of the Wichita-Sedgwick County building code, and rules vary by city and by scope, especially when fascia, roofing or drainage changes are involved. If you are unsure, check with MABCD or your city's building office before starting (MABCD, permits).

Planning the materials list

Count the pieces before buying. For each run you need the gutter length plus a little extra, one end cap at each dead end, an inside or outside corner at each turn, one outlet per downspout, two elbows at the top of each downspout (to step back to the wall), downspout length to reach the ground, a bottom elbow, straps every several feet, and an extension or splash block. Buy a few extra hangers, rivets and a second tube of sealant; running out halfway up a ladder is frustrating.

Take your time, work in good weather, and do not hesitate to stop and get help if a part of the job is beyond your comfort on a ladder.

Related services

• Gutter Installation: New seamless gutters and downspouts measured, sized and pitched for your roof.
• Seamless Gutters: Continuous gutters roll-formed on site, with joints only at corners and end caps.
• 5-Inch vs. 6-Inch Gutters: How gutter and downspout size is chosen, and when 6-inch gutters are worth it.

Sources: CDC NIOSH, National Ladder Safety Month; Angi, seamless gutters cost; HomeGuide, gutter installation cost; ICC, 2018 International Residential Code, Section R801.3 roof drainage; MABCD, permits.