How To Measure Gutters For Guards

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Whether you want to replace your existing gutters or add gutters to a new home, you'll need to know the right measurements. Fortunately, you lot can easily measure existing gutters yourself if you need to supersede them. To cull the correct size gutters for a building that doesn't already take them, you lot can quickly calculate the drainage surface area of the roof and adjust for pitch and rainfall to find the adapted square footage. You only need a ladder, chalk, record mensurate, level, newspaper, and pen!

1. one

   Find the width of the gutters. Gutters typically come in five or half-dozen in (13 or 15 cm) sizes, and tin can exist "1000-style" or "half-round." Identify a sturdy twenty ft (half dozen.i one thousand) ladder on 1 side of your house then that you lot tin achieve the gutters. Carefully climb upwards the ladder and mensurate the width of the opening at the acme of the gutters.^[1]

   • K-style gutters are L-shaped on the dorsum, while the front end has step-similar increments. One-half-round gutters are round on the bottom with a lip on the height of the exterior edge.

2. 2

   Measure the length of each gutter run. Run the tape measure out from 1 corner of the gutter every bit far as you lot can go toward the reverse corner. Make a marker with chalk and record the measurement. Carefully climb down the ladder and movement it to the chalk marker. Measure from the chalk mark to the reverse corner of the gutter, making another chalk marking and moving the ladder over again if necessary.^[2]

   • Continue around the perimeter of your home until you have measured and recorded the entire length of the existing gutters.
   • Gutters and downspouts are typically sold in 10 ft (3.0 m) lengths.

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3. three

   Measure the height of each downspout. If you lot have downspouts, position and climb the ladder so y'all can place the measuring tape at the summit of 1 downspout. Measure out from the peak to the ground, then add 4 feet (1.two m) to each downspout to account for the angled extension at the lesser that directs water away from the home. Tape your measurement, and then repeat the process for all the other downspouts.^[iii]

4. 4

   Count the number of corners and end caps. Walk around your home and count the number of corner pieces and end caps on the gutters. Record this information and marking whether the cease caps are right or left ends.^[4]

   • Each downspout requires three elbow pieces, so add those to your notes as well.

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1. 1

   Place a sturdy 20 ft (6.1 chiliad) ladder against the roof and climb up. Position the ladder on one side of the house near the edge of the roof. Accept someone hold the bottom of the ladder steady. Make sure y'all accept both chalk and a measuring tape in your pocket or tool chugalug.^[5]

2. 2

   Measure the horizontal length of 1 side of the roof. Place the measuring tape at ane corner of the roof. Stretch information technology out every bit far equally yous can and mark the end point with chalk. Write down the measurement, and then climb down and move your ladder over toward the chalk mark. Continue measuring, recording, and moving your ladder until yous can reach the end. Add all the measurements together to get the total horizontal length of 1 side.^{[half dozen]}

3. three

   Measure the width of the same side of the roof. Advisedly climb up the ladder and onto the roof so you lot can measure the vertical/angled width of the aforementioned side of the roof. Identify 1 end of the measuring record on 1 corner of the roof and mensurate to the opposite corner. Use the chalk to make marks and reposition the tape measure, if necessary. Write down the full measurement of the width of the roof.^[7]

   • Carefully climb dorsum down the ladder when you're finished.

4. 4

   Repeat for each side or department. Measure both the length and width of each side equally well as whatever additional facets, slopes, or sections. Exercise circumspection when moving the ladder and climbing on both the ladder and the roof.^[8]

5. 5

   Find the area for each section and add them together. For each individual side or department, multiply the width by the length to find the area. Then, add the expanse of each side together to find the full foursquare footage of the roof.^[9]

   • If you have a uncomplicated gable-end roof, yous only demand to multiply the length of one side by the width of the same side, then multiply the sum by ii to become the full square footage.

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1. 1

   Find the pitch of the roof using a ii ft (61 cm) level. The pitch is the incline or angle of the roof. To find the pitch, position 1 end of the level against the roof and level it. Measure the distance between the midpoint of the underside of the level and the roof to find the pitch of a 12 in (30 cm) run. The size of the gap tells you the pitch.^[x]

   • For case, a two in (5.1 cm) gap means the roof has a 2-in-12 pitch and a 6 in (fifteen cm) gap means the roof has a 6-in-12 pitch.

2. two

   Use the pitch to decide the pitch gene. The roof pitch cistron tells you the vertical rise of your roof over a 12 in (thirty cm) span. You need the pitch factor to find the adapted square footage of the roof. A 0- to 3-in-12 pitch corresponds to a pitch factor of 1. A 4- to 5-in-12 pitch has a pitch factor of 1.05, while a 6- to 8-in-12 pitch has a pitch factor of 1.one. A 9- to eleven-in 12 pitch as a pitch factor of ane.2, and a 12-in-12 or higher pitch has a pitch factor of i.iii.^[xi]

3. 3

   Wait upwardly the rainfall intensity for your area. The rainfall intensity tells you the maximum amount of rainfall for a 5-minute period per region. If y'all live outside the U.S., do an online search for rainfall intensity. Find the rainfall intensity for various locations across the United states of america online.

4. 4

   Multiply the square footage by the roof-pitch factor and the intensity. Calculating the drainage area of the roof will provide y'all with the foursquare footage. Multiplying the roof-pitch gene, the intensity of rainfall, and the square footage of the roof will provide you with the adjusted square footage, which can be used to decide the size of gutters you'll need.^[12]

   • For instance, if the foursquare footage is 1,000 feet (300 thousand), the roof-pitch factor is 1.ii, and the intensity is 5.7, multiply 1,000 x 1.2 x five.7 to equal 6,270.

5. 5

   Choose the size that corresponds with the adjusted square footage. Gutters come in "K-style" and "half-round" way. If the adapted foursquare footage is equal to or less than 2,500 feet (760 m), cull v in (xiii cm) half-round gutters. For square footage upward to 3,840 feet (one,170 chiliad), utilise 6 in (15 cm) half-round gutters. If the adjusted square footage is equal to or less than v,520 feet (1,680 1000), choose five in (13 cm) One thousand-way gutters. For square footage up to vii,960 anxiety (2,430 1000), utilise 6 in (15 cm) M-style gutters.^[13]

6. 6

   Add together extra downspouts to increment the drainage area. A 2 in (5.i cm) by 3 in (7.six cm) rectangular downspout can add 600 square feet (55.7 square meters) of drainage area, while a 3 in (7.six cm) round spout adds 706 square feet (65.6 square meters). Y'all can add together extra downspouts to increase the drainage expanse if necessary.^[fourteen]

   • If you don't want to add together downspouts and the square footage of the roof is more than than 7,960 anxiety (2,430 yard), y'all'll have to order custom 7 or viii in (18 or 20 cm) gutters.

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• Question

  How practice I measure gutters?

  

  Barry Zakar is a professional handyman and the founder of Little Cerise Truck Abode Services based in the San Francisco Bay Area. With over ten years of experience, Barry specializes in a diversity of carpentry projects. He is skilled at constructing decks, railings, fences, gates, and various pieces of furniture. Barry as well holds his MBA from John F. Kennedy University.

  

  

  Back up wikiHow by unlocking this adept respond.

  Measure out the length of the gutter you lot're trying to replace, and so go to the hardware store and option a length that'south as shut as possible to what you need. So, get a shorter section to brand up the difference.

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Things Yous'll Need

• 20 ft (6.1 m) ladder
• Tape measure
• Chalk
• Newspaper
• Pen/pencil
• ii ft (61 cm) level (for finding the roof pitch)

• When you're installing gutters, you want to utilize every bit few sections every bit possible, so buy a long piece that's as shut as possible to what y'all demand, then become a shorter department to brand upwardly the difference.^[15]

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About This Article

Article Summary X

Measuring your gutters might seem similar a daunting task, but with a slice of chalk, you tin can break it up into smaller sections. To measure the length, climb your ladder and run your measuring tape from one terminate as far equally it'll become. And then, mark the end indicate with chalk, note down the measurement, and move your ladder to the chalk mark. Echo the process, measuring from each new chalk mark until you've reached the end of your gutters. When y'all're done, just add together your individual measurements together to find your total gutter length. If you lot have downspouts, mensurate them from the top to the ground, then add 4 feet to account for the angled extensions. For more tips, including how to calculate the drainage expanse of your roof, read on!

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