How To Cut And Rivet Aluminum Gutters

This is our first video in our tutorial on metal roofing.

How to cut and rivet aluminum gutters.

More diy home improvement projects. Use the old adage measure twice and cut once then turn the gutter upside down on the table and mark it all the way around. Drill through the side of the downspout and into the connector. Bend the gutter and cut the bottom.

It s much easier to join sections on the ground than to work from the top of a ladder. Use needlenosed pliers to slightly crimp the elbow to fit into the downspout as shown. Press the head of the rivet into the drill hole and squeeze the handle of your rivet gun to lock the rivet into place. Use a square and pencil to mark the gutter length and cut to the line.

Screw a downspout elbow to the outlet tube protruding down from the gutter. Gutter material also can be cut with a chop saw or sabre saw but be sure to wipe the steel filings from the painted surface. Hold another elbow against the house and cut a piece of downspout to fit between the two elbows. Slide a rivet shaft into the rivet gun.

Measure roof edges along the fascia to determine gutter length. On a straight roof edge measure from the outer shingle edges on each side and then add 1 2 inch on each side. Apply a bead of silicone sealant along the inner edge of an aluminum end cap. Cut the gutter to length using a hacksaw and tin snips.

Laying your gutter on the workbench measure off the amount of gutter you want to cut and mark it with a pencil. When you measure from an outside roof edge to inside corner subtract 5 inches to make. Tap the end cap onto the end of the gutter then secure it with a crimping tool. When you choose the same material for rivets as your gutter material you are taking the time to make sure you are doing everything in your power to prevent corrosion that happens when two different materials are used and secured together.

Aluminum material requires aluminum rivets just as steel material requires steel rivets. Secure the downspout outlet to the gutter with four pop rivets or screws. Cut the front and back sides with tin snips. Instead of butting parts together and covering the joints with a seam cover as recommended by the manufacturer lap all seams from two to four inches.

How to seam aluminum gutters together. Repeat the drill and rivet on the other side of the downspout to connect it to the main gutter.