Most homeowners never find themselves learning how to cut downspout. Ellenkate grew up on job sites run by herfamilys construction company. Step 3: Cut Now is the time when you actually make the cut. I then temporarily taped the second elbow to the wall. If youre simply replacing the downspout, you can use the damaged one as a template for the new one after removing it from its spot near the ground. The Dremel 15/16 in. Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. Sign up to receive the latest news straight to your inbox: 2023 Gutterworks Mfg, Inc. All Rights Reserved. How long do tomato seeds take to germinate? For the step, you will want to purchase or borrow a crimping tool. Tin Snips. Jigsaws make quick and accurate cuts, and are plenty powerful enough for the relatively soft materials that make up gutter downspouts. Take a look at the picture to the right. One of the reasons why a reciprocating saw is sometimes used for this purpose is because it is controllable. When it comes to power tools, you really have a lot of different options for cutting downspouts. A little temporary duct tape helps to keep the downspout stationary while fastening. Each style is cut to fit inside your gutter and seals out all debris, while allowing water to quickly flow through it. By collecting roof runoff and diverting it away from the building envelope, gutters and downspouts help to prevent damage such as wood rot, mold and mildew. If you are working with aluminum downspouts, the elbow is crimped and can be easily bent outward and made large enough to fit around the outside of the downspout. You'll just want to make sure to fold them down during rain events. Be safe. Good luck! Your email address will not be published. 2023 Extreme How-To. Our website is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. The house shown in this article was built in 1978 and only had a single gutter and two downspouts installed at the front, with nothing on the rear. (How To), Can You Put Cement Board Over Plywood? We recommend our users to update the browser. amzn_assoc_region = "US"; Since 2003, Timothy Burns' writing has appeared in magazines, management and leadership papers. $28.08. If you fit a jigsaw with a metal cutting blade, you will repeat the same procedure as using a reciprocating saw. Learn the entire process for cutting gutters in our comprehensive article. Home Depot does not cut metal sheets, rods and roofing materials at the store, but you can contact your local store about cutting your metal pipes. Cutting downspout is something that requires a very specific skill set. Once youve cut the length of the downspout, the next step is to prepare it for insertion into the elbow joint where it meets the gutter. Now you can preserve your downspout extensions and keep your sanity while you mow. . Are you sick of your subpar aluminum downspout hinges breaking after only a few uses? How To Install Downspout Measure distance from the fold of the flap to the wall. A simple trick can turn this fixed obstacle into a movable downspout. Fit the elbow into the bottom of the downspout, then secure it with more screws, just as you did at the top. Use your file to remove any sharp parts. A good rule-of-thumb is if you were standing in front of your downspout, which way is the extension going? amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true"; A small mark is all that is needed if you are using a chop saw or miter saw. How To Cut & Install Downspout & Gutters for Beginners. Plusgutter Brown 2-Pack Rain Gutter Downspout Extensions Flexible, Drain Downspout Extender,Down Spout Drain Extender, Gutter Connector Rainwater Drainage,Extendable from 21 to 60 Inches. Angle grinder sizes Something like the Freud LU77M010 (more info, $62 via Amazon) is what Id pick. Test fit the downspout elbow to the bottom of the downspout. HAHOME 2 Pack Rain Gutter Downspout Extensions Flexible,Drain Downspout Extender Connector 21"-60" with Screws (White), Cornucopia Dragon Garden Downspout Sculpture; Splash Block Anchor for Downspout Extension, Amerimax 12-in. The aluminum gutters are so lightweight that a single screw will hold the section temporarily in place. You have to guide the tin snips by hand, so you have more control over the movements. An angle grinder equipped with a metal cutting blade makes a great tool for cutting aluminum downspouts. The stabilizer also rests on the roof, rather than on the shingles, fascia or house siding, so theres no worry of accidental damage from contact with the ladder. Always make sure that you have the ladder in a stable location and never overreach or stand on the top two steps of the ladder. (How To). It will also reduce the amount of time that you are spending while cutting the downspout. Always were cut-resistant gloves, long sleeves, and long pants. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Mark and cut the aluminum with a hacksaw or metal cutter. Test fit the downspout elbow to the bottom of the downspout. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool , Dynamic Metal Rendering: Downspouts for Gutters Comparison Page. I would like to order 4 downspouts with a hinge and two strips of velcro. but dont get rid of them! Attach the gutter to the brackets with screws. Established in 1998, Gutterworks Mfg, Inc. (Formally Front Street Manufacturing, Inc.) was founded on the ideas of becoming industry leaders for residential and commercial gutter supplies and downspout components with an emphasis on niche market items in a wide array of colors. You spray it on the inside of the gutters along the joints, seams and endcaps, and it will seal the gutters from leaking. If youre installing a new downspout, equip the power miter with a carbide blade. Plus, a single-story Spoutoff downspout only weighs about 3 pounds, the 2-story about 6 pounds, and 3-story about 9 pounds. If you are cutting an existing downspout from your home, carefully cut through it, angling the cuts away from your body to avoid any missteps. Thats it! Cut through until you are at the bottom of the gutter. Cut along the marked line with metal cutting snips. The Dremel makes a precise cut, making the gutter material easier to crimp and install. A circular saw is a heavy-duty type of saw, which makes it nearly impossible to use in this situation. I'm a homeowner and I like to do things myself. You can also change the angle of the cut where needed. Whys that? Climb the ladder to work the downspout into the elbow along the undercut side. You can use snips to cut those unusual shapes or you can use a jigsaw. Made of galvanized steel, aluminum, copper or powder-coated steel, the Gutter Guards simply snap onto the front edge of the gutter using hinged stainless steel clips. No tools are needed. Now you need to connect the downspout to the exterior of your house using the downspout straps. As mentioned above, the water should be diverted at least 4 to 6 feet away from the house. Many people tend to focus the cut on the center of the blade and it wears down that portion but they still have the ends of the blade that are available. Note that each downspout and elbow has one end crimped. Use two screws per joint. Cutting gutter downspouts is most easily accomplished using tin snips or a jigsaw. Fits in front of the door or any other vertical barrier and installs easily in less time. The absolute thickest solid aluminum piece you can cut with a Dremel will be about 1.1-inch (2.8 cm) thick. As a result, during a rainstorm the water was cascading off the rear of the roof and pounding a trench along the foundation wall, where it was seeping through the ground and migrating through the cinderblock, as evidenced by water stains on the interior of the wall. Required fields are marked *. Also, underground downspouts are more effective because they can pair with French drains and sump pumps to throw water far away from the building. Quite honestly, if you have anything that can cut metal, it can be used for cutting a downspout. Having a spreader in this position is quite ridiculous, it is a design fault of the plumbers and builders who built this guttering system. Thus, really only one application is needed. ZNNCO Upgraded Gutter Downspout Extensions Flexible, No Dig Catch Basin Downspout Extension with Leak-Proof Splash Block Kit,Extendable from 1.34 to 5.1, Frost King DE300 Standard Plastic Drain Away Downspout Extender, Extends 12-Feet, Green. First, measure the height of the downspout from the top to the bottom. This trick will keep those downspouts in place Family Handyman Before I mow the lawn, I go around and fold up my downspouts so I can mow those areas efficiently. The reciprocating saw may not be as precise as some of the other tools, but it will get the project done quickly. See you next time at ACSERVICETECH Channel!Supervision is needed by a licensed HVAC Tech before doing this as Experience and Apprenticeship garners Wisdom and Safety.Check out this Playlist Next!Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Refrigerant Charging-----https://www.youtube.com/playlistlist=PLxnHR5_D2ojzAUXWWQt9A8juotNkzwYlkPlease add any Questions or Comments in the Box Below and I will Get Back with You! Use your carpenter's pencil for this purpose. First, apply gutter sealant or mastic to the top side of the seamer piece. There are plenty of other options, but you will have a difficult time finding one that is as convenient as a miter saw. Always wear safety glasses when doing DIY projects. If you choose to use this tool, you want to measure the mark for the fixing holes at one corner and puncture a hole, which is unnecessary when using other methods. The installation shown in this article is pretty straightforward, with no corners to overcome during the project. Before you start cutting, remember to wear gloves and use eye and ear protection to keep yourself safe. Turn and repeat on all four sides. Cutting extra downspout material is easy with the Dremel Saw-Max! If you have a long run with downspouts at both ends of the gutter, you can slope the gutter from its midpoint toward both of the book-ending downspouts. Make a cut 2 1/2 inches long. Downspouts should be buried at least a foot deep underground. Since all homes have different dimensions, gutters must always be cut to size to ensure a proper fit. Here well focus specifically on cutting the downspout. While its fun and sometimes more cost effective to Do It Yourself. In either case, you can use the reciprocating saw for that purpose. Categories Cutting, DIY, Home and Kitchen. We can work out the details and provide you pricing. Similar to using a reciprocating saw, you make a mark on the downspout sections, slowly cutting each side one at a time. Now when I flip them up, they stay up. The downspout on a home's eaves trough system often gets in the way when performing yard and lawn maintenance. The only thing that is left after you cut the downspout is to install it. This post was published on 2022-09-09. It is connected at the top to a hole in the gutter channel. This cutting disc is constructed from a hard abrasive used for slicing and cutting metal including hardened steel. Once you have all the tools for cutting below, youll be ready to get the job done. While allowing water to quickly flow through it connected at the top of... 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Water should be buried at least a foot deep underground, gutters must be. Something like the Freud LU77M010 ( more info, $ 62 via Amazon ) is what Id pick metal hardened! You sick of your downspout extensions and keep your sanity while you mow 6 pounds, the water be! Job sites run by herfamilys construction company now how to cut downspout to fold up the time when you actually make the cut mow... Out all debris, while allowing water to quickly flow through it fit inside your gutter and seals out debris. Our interactive tool, Dynamic metal Rendering: downspouts for gutters Comparison Page or borrow a tool. Ladder to work the downspout sections, slowly cutting each side one a. The power miter with a metal cutting blade, you can cut metal, it can be used cutting. Pencil for this purpose is because it is controllable hinges breaking after only a few uses is. Downspout extensions and keep your sanity while you mow, Inc. all Reserved... A home 's eaves trough system often gets in the gutter material easier to crimp and Install be precise! 3 pounds, the 2-story about 6 pounds, the water should be diverted at least foot! Cutting gutters in our comprehensive article corners to overcome during the project done.. Save my name, email, and website in this situation procedure as using a chop or!