Many home improvement stores carry vinyl gutter sections and installation kits. They are affordable and have been designed for easy installation. When learning how to install vinyl gutters, you may find that slip joint connectors are easier than gluing or riveting aluminum pieces. As you embark on this project, please be careful while working on a ladder. You’ll also find that having a work partner makes installing the gutter sections more manageable.

How to Install Vinyl Gutters Step By Step

1. Before doing anything, you want to decide where you will route water running off the roof.
2. Select downspout locations where you can send water at least 10 feet away from your foundation.
3. Avoid downspout locations where the slope of the land would let water flow back toward your house.
4. Install vinyl gutter downspouts roughly every 30 feet to prevent gutter overflows.
5. Measure the length of every roofline that needs gutters.
6. Sketch an outline of the house on paper and note the length of every side as you measure.
7. Measure the heights of the locations where you plan to place downspouts.
8. On the sketch, mark every spot where you need elbows, corner pieces, downspout outlets, and downspout extensions.
9. Add all of the measurements and accessory counts to determine how much vinyl gutter to buy.
10. Buy a little extra to account for errors that might occur.
11. You must mark the slope on the fascia board to ensure that water flows in the direction that you want.
12. An appropriate gutter slope drops about 1/4 to 1/2 inch per every 10 feet.
13. Tap a small nail into the fascia board at the highest end of the slope about 1 inch below the roof’s edge.
14. Calculate how far the slope should drop based on length of the gutter.
15. Mark this measurement where the downspout will be installed.
16. Run the chalk line from the small nail to the other end and snap it to leave a mark.
17. With vinyl gutter systems, you must attach the downspout outlets first with 1-1/4-inch deck screws.
18. Working along the chalk line, install gutter hangers about every 2 feet.
19. Attach the gutter corners with deck screws.
20. Hang vinyl gutter sections on the hangers.
21. Use plastic slip joints to connect sections.
22. Should you need to cut a vinyl gutter section to length, use a hacksaw.
23. Attach end caps where needed.
24. Fit vinyl gutter sections into the downspout outlets.
25. Install the downspouts with brackets down the wall.
26. Connect the downspout elbows and use extensions to direct water far away from the foundation.