Planning your gutter replacement project

Noticed that your gutters are leaking, sagging, broken or loose? It could be time to plan your gutter replacement project.

Here, we’ll cover all you need to know to get your project off to a smooth start – whether you’re tackling it yourself or bringing in the professionals.

Is it worth replacing my guttering?

If your gutters are damaged, it’s important to get them repaired or replaced.

A damaged gutter can:

• Allow water to seep into your roof
• Cause damp in your internal rooms
• Allow water to stain the brickwork or render of your home
• Cause rainwater streams that cut through your garden, ruining your lawn
• Splash you with rainwater as you leave for work!

In the worst case scenario, water could stream down the outside wall, pound the foundation line and ultimately threaten the integrity of your home.

With that in mind, replacing your gutters if they’re needed isn’t just worth it—it’s a must to keep your home safe.

Planning your gutter replacement project

Before starting your gutter replacement project, you’ll need to make key decisions.

How much of your guttering system will you replace?

Depending on the extent of the damage, you’ll often be able to replace individual parts of your guttering system rather than replacing the whole thing.

So, consider how much of your guttering will need replacing.

For instance, can you keep your existing downpipes? And what about your fascias and soffits?

Although your fascias and soffits don’t necessarily need to be replaced with your guttering, it often makes sense to update both at the same time if they’re old and in poor condition.

This is because you’ll usually need to remove your gutters to install new fascias and soffits anyway. So, you may as well tackle the job while your gutters are already off rather than having to double up on the work at a later date.

What material will you choose for your replacement guttering?

Most homeowners nowadays opt for uPVC guttering.

After all, it’s the cheapest material and is easy to maintain.

However, metal gutters are also widely available. Cast iron is particularly aesthetically pleasing and works well on older properties. Meanwhile, aluminium is extremely long-lasting – in fact, it will last around 10 times longer than a plastic gutter.

You can even get wooden gutters although these are a premium feature and will require more maintenance.

Will you need scaffolding?

If your property is particularly tall or your gutters are difficult to access, you might need scaffolding to carry out your gutter replacement.

This can add to your costs considerably.

That said, most of the time, gutter specialists will be able to use ladders or scaffolding towers to carry out your gutter replacement project.

Which brings us onto…

Will you hire a professional or take the DIY route?

If you’re confident at DIY, you may be considering trying your hand at gutter replacement yourself.

This is certainly an option if you have the skills and tools needed – especially if you’re dealing with uPVC guttering, which is the easiest type to install.

However, if you have any doubts, it’s always best to bring in a professional.

Firstly, remember that you’ll be accessing difficult-to-reach places high up on a ladder, which could be dangerous.

And secondly, bear in mind that a poor-quality installation could lead to problems with your guttering. If these aren’t fixed quickly, things could quickly escalate into issues such as damp and structural damage.

A professional will have the skills, knowledge and experience needed to get your gutter replacement project right first time.

How to replace guttering

Wondering how to replace guttering? Whether you’re planning on tackling the job yourself or you simply want to know what the experts will do, here’s the lowdown.

1. Measure guttering

First things first, you’ll need to measure all the edges of your roof where your guttering will go.

• Measure the entire length of your roof from end-to-end
• Consider keeping your old gutters to reference their size for the new ones

Top tip – Now’s the time to measure your fascias and soffits, too, if you’re hoping to replace them at the same time.

2. Measure your downslope

Although you might think that gutters are installed in a straight line, they’re actually installed at a slight angle. This makes sure that the water flows along them to the downpipes and away from your home.

• Your downslope should go down a quarter of an inch every 10 feet
• Mark the slope out with a washable chalk line

Top tip – If you have a long gutter over 40 feet long, you can slope it down at both ends with a downpipe on both sides.

3. Start measuring your downpipes

Your next step is measuring where your downpipes will go.

• You’ll need a downpipe roughly every 30 to 40 feet
• Any roof measurement over 40 feet will mean you need two downpipes
• Mark out where your downpipes will go

Top tip – Make sure to plan your downpipe positions so that you avoid obstacles like electricity meters and air conditioning units.

4. Gather your tools and materials

You’ll want to make sure you have everything you need before you start removing your gutters. That way, the job will go much more quickly and efficiently.

You’ll need:

• Ladder
• Hammer
• Drill
• Screwdrivers
• Caulk
• Wood putty
• Sandpaper
• Crimper
• Tin snips
• Hacksaw
• Screws
• Rivets
• Gutters
• Downpipes and elbows
• Flashing
• Gutter sealant
• Work gloves
• Toolbelt

5. Remove your downpipes and gutters

It’s much easier to remove your gutters if you remove your downpipes first.

• Loosen the brackets attaching your brackets to your home
• Remove your downpipes
• Remove the nails, screws and brackets holding up your gutters
• Remove your gutters by the elbow

Take your time to remove your gutters carefully as the last thing you want to do is damage something in the process.

Top tip – Don’t remove all your gutters at once if rain is forecast and you won’t have time to replace them before the rain starts.

6. Fill holes in your fascia boards

Now that your gutters have been detached, you should fill in any holes left behind in your fascia boards.

• Use caulk for any uPVC penetrations
• Fill any holes in the wood with wood putty
• Sand down rough edges

Alternatively, if you’re planning on replacing your fascias and/or soffits, now is the time to do so!

7. Cut your gutters

Your new gutters will probably be a bit too long for what you need.

• Cut your gutters to size
• A hacksaw will often work well for this
• Use tin snips to make small clean cuts

Top tip – uPVC gutters will be easiest to work with, while steel gutters will be challenging to cut without the proper tools.

8. Install your fascia brackets

The first step towards installing your new gutters is fixing the support brackets to your fascias.

• Drill pilot holes into the fascia
• Use your chalk line markings as a guide
• Attach the support brackets to the fascia

Top tip – Wondering how many fascia brackets you need per gutter? As a general guide, you’ll want your brackets no more than 1m apart and no more than 150mm from an angle or stopend.

If you buy your guttering in 4m lengths, that means three fascia brackets per length, one per stopend and two per bend.

9. Install your gutters

The time has finally come to put your new gutters into place.

• Lay your gutters into the fascia brackets
• Screw the gutter into the fascia
• Seal over it using caulk or gutter sealant
• Install your gutter flashing and any gutter guards

10. Attach your downpipes

Last but not least, you can attach your downpipes and elbows.

• Place your downpipe elbow into the pre-cut hole you made earlier
• Add sealant around the seam
• Leave the sealant to dry
• Attach your support brackets to the side of your home
• Install your downpipes
• Seal every seam

How much does it cost to replace gutters?

The cost to replace gutters depends on lots of different factors, including:

• Whether you hire a professional or tackle the job yourself
• The length of guttering you need
• The gutter material
• The extent of damage
• What type of property you have
• Whether scaffolding is needed
• Your location
• Whether you’re carrying out other work at the same time (eg. replacing fascias or soffits)

That said, as a rough guide, you’re looking at around £1,000 for a professional to replace a gutter that’s 15 to 20 metres long, together with three rainwater downpipes. This includes both supply and installation.

Meanwhile, the cost to replace fascias and soffits is typically around £150 per linear metre. 

Find an expert for your gutter replacement project

Unless you’re experienced and confident carrying out this kind of work yourself, we’d highly recommend hiring a gutter installation company to take on your gutter replacement project.

They’ll have the tools, knowledge and experience needed to install your new guttering to a high standard, and to get it right first time

Ultimately, when you hire a professional, you can be confident that your guttering is going to do its job properly, keeping your home safe from water penetration and other damage.

So, what are you waiting for? Enter your postcode into the search box below to find a trusted gutter installer near you.