Broken gutters are more than just a nuisance. In the long run, overflowing rainwater damages the substance of the house.
Despite the galvanized surface and good maintenance through repeated painting, sheet steel gutters only have a limited service life. The rusting usually starts at the soldered seams and can then hardly be stopped. Sealing compounds or bitumen adhesive slow down the decay, but can't stop him. damp leaves, water, standing in the gutter because of the leaves, and frost then cause the seams to break open. The channel parts bend and can no longer drain the water that accumulates. Then the rainwater runs down the house wall, penetrates the masonry and brings moisture to the foundation walls of the house, often down to the basement. This causes lasting damage to the building fabric.
Simple fix
Are the gutter irons, by which the gutter is carried, still in good condition, replacing the gutters is relatively easy. Plastic channels are recommended as replacement material, which have the advantage of greater durability compared to sheet metal channels. In addition, they are easy to assemble, never need painting and are inexpensive. You can choose between gray and brown material. Plastic gutters are available in the same dimensions and shapes as sheet metal gutters and with the same accessories. The exchange is therefore also possible in older houses and does not require a complete reinstallation. The plastic gutter parts and downpipes are connected without adhesive. The connecting elements are provided with sealing strips, who make it possible, that the parts can move in case of strong temperature fluctuations.
Careful disassembly
Care must be taken when dismantling the old gutters, so that the gutter irons and the bottom row of pans are not damaged. Only bend the lugs of the irons up so far, as is necessary to remove the old gutter. Long and soldered gutter pieces are first cut into manageable pieces with tin snips. Are the irons rusted?, remove the rust with a wire brush, Apply rust protection and then paint at least twice. Broken or severely corroded gutter irons must be replaced. To do this, lift the bottom pans in the corresponding area and mount the new irons. There are also special repair irons, which can be fastened to the side of the rafters or to the end board of the rafters. Before the new gutters can be installed, you have to realign the irons. The gradient to the discharge point should be at a channel length of 10 meters approx. 3 to 5 Be centimeters. The first and the last iron are then aligned with a hose level, und beide werden dann mit einem straff gespannten Band miteinander verbunden. Then align all other irons by bending.
Whether the irons are exactly in line, can also be checked by aiming along.
The channel is then inserted into the iron with a slight turning and fixed with the bending straps. Gutter pieces must be put together, this is done with connecting shells, into which the channel ends are clamped. Also inside- and outer angles as well as end pieces are only clamped and close with sealing strips.
After installation, you should detect artificial rain with a garden hose, whether the water finds the right way into the downpipes.
Complete purchase only once
■ Hersteller von Dachrinnen-Systemen haben genaue Materiallisten, where you can enter your needs. This way you keep track of the material, that you have to buy. The lists also remind you of small accessories such as finials, clamps etc.