The year seems to be speeding by everyone, and pretty soon, the blue skies and sunshine will be replaced by clouds and rain. Before this happens, you may want to double-check your gutters to avoid any water damage or leaks. Now, there are many types of gutters depending on materials and shape. You could have any of the following:
According to Shape
- K- Shape gutters
- Half-round gutters
According to Materials
- Aluminium
- Steel
- Vinyl
- Zinc
Half round guttering is the popular option for most houses. If you go out and check your gutters right now, you’ll probably recognise the familiar U-shape that half-round gutter resemble. They’re basically tubes that have been cut in half.
Now, there are many benefits to having half-round gutters. They are more durable due to their smooth surface, and debris flows easily through the gutter. They are especially useful for heavy rainfall or snow.
Despite being greatly durable, there will come a time when you need to replace or repair your half-round gutter. As such, you should also learn how to properly measure the size of your half-round gutter. Here are some easy steps on how you can do this:
Step 1: Prepare your tools
Tools are essential for any task you need to accomplish. For this particular task, you’re going to need the following:
- Ladder
- Measuring tape
- Level
- Marker/ Chalk
Step 2: Measure the gutter width
Place the ladder against the side of your house. Make sure it is well-balanced and won’t tilt towards another direction. Using the ladder, climb up to the gutter and measure the top of the opening with your level.
Step 3: Measure the gutter run
After measuring the top of the gutter, it’s also important to measure the run of the gutter. Just start from one corner of the house going in the opposite direction. After you’ve measured that, continue around your house. Do this until you’ve measured the entire perimeter.
Step 4: Record downspouts
For measuring downspouts, start at the top of the gutter. Move your ladder next to the downspout that you would like to measure. Place the measuring tape at the mouth of the downspout. Carefully measure it going down until you reach the ground. Add a four feet difference to account for some of the gutter angles. This process must be repeated for all downspouts.
It’s important to note that fewer sections are better when put in your gutter. As such, get the gutter length that is closest to the measurement of the area you need to replace. If there happens to be space left after replacing the gutter, you can get a small gutter to close the gap.
Note that this process is for houses with existing gutters already that just need repairs or replacements. For houses that have no pre-installed gutters, a whole different process is needed. This would require accounting for the drainage area of the roof. Considering pitch and rainfall is also done when installing new gutters to a house that doesn’t have any.
With that, it’s best to take care and maintain your current half-round guttering systems by making sure they’re clean and replacing them when needed.