The best way to replace gutters is to ask a reputable installer to do it for you. They have all the right safety equipment and knowledge to do it. But if you’re a competent DIYer, you could have a go at replacing the gutters yourself. If you do, you could save yourself an average of £359 on labour costs.
The biggest risk from replacing guttering yourself is the height. Even if you’re on a secure ladder, if you’re not used to working at height you could seriously hurt yourself. If your home is a bungalow, the risk is lower, but anything two storeys and above carries significant risk.
If you’re still happy to go ahead, there are a few things you’ll need to fit gutters yourself:
- A sturdy ladder
- Gloves and safety goggles
- A hammer and nails to secure your fascia so it doesn’t fall down mid-replacement
- A hacksaw – this will cut through uPVC guttering – just make sure you leave a margin of error with every cut you make
- Cable ties or rope to secure the existing gutters while you dismantle them, so they don’t fall off
- All the right fixings and brackets to secure the guttering
- An electric drill and/or screwdrivers
Once you’ve removed the old guttering, you can get started with the new ones. Follow these steps:
- Add a gutter bracket to the top of the fascia board at the opposite end to the stop-end outlet, if you have one. Then tie a piece of string around the base of the bracket.
- You’ll need to place the gutter outlet accurately over the drain. Hold a plumb line against the fascia directly over the drain, and mark that position with a pencil. Following the manufacturer’s advice on the number of screws to use, fit the gutter outlet no more than 50mm below the level of the roof tiles.
- Stretch the piece of string you tied on the bracket along the fascia board, and tie it to the outlet. Make sure you check with a spirit level that the string slopes towards the outlet.
- Mark the positions of the other brackets. They should be no more than 800mm apart, or 600mm if your roof is very steep. They also shouldn’t be any more than 150mm from a joint or fitting. Then fit the rest of the brackets.
- Fit a stop-end to the first length of gutter and clip it into position on the brackets. At the other end, fit a union piece and screw it into the fascia.
- Then fit the next length of gutter into it, and the next until you’re finished. Cut the last one to fit using your hacksaw before attaching a stop-end. Then make sure all the joints line up with the insertion depth marks on the fittings. Then you’re done!