Milwaukee Gutter Guy

Gutter Basics

2005-06-23T05:57:00.000-07:00

Considerations

------------
Sections versus seamless gutters. All gutters are come in sections or or are extruded as seamless (continuous) gutters. Sectioned gutters are sold in pieces and installed as component systems. All do-it-yourself gutter systems come in sections, though some profressionals install them, too. The sections themselves can be over 20 ft. long each or cut to any size with a hacksaw. Connectors join gutter sections to each other and to downspouts. All sectional systems have end caps, corner pieces and drop outlets for connecting to downspouts. The drawback to sectional systems is that all those seams tend to leak.

Seamless gutters won't leak at seams because there are none; sections join only at inside and outside corners and at downspout outlets. That's why they're the most popular configuration. Seamless gutters, made of aluminum, galvanized steel or copper, are extruded to custom lengths on site using a portable machine. Some professionals use the very highest quality materials & sealants that reduce problems & maintenance to a minimum and extend the life your investment significantly.
--------
Brackets & supports are critical. The investment in your gutter is only as good as the weakest link. Often this occurs do to short sighted (save a few pennies) thinking. Systems using lightweight brackets and nails are inviting catastrophe. During heavy snows and icing you may find your gutter torn away from your home. Bent and broken it may need total replacement.
Heavy guage brackets and proper screws (vs nails) will protect the investment you are making.
-----
Installation - Although gutters are intregral to the life and investment in your home. They are the most misapplied home improvement made. And as such lead to significant, costly damage to home and possessions. If you have the time, energy & tools to research and install gutter properly great, if not hire a true professional that has been in business for over 5 years. (The average gutter business only survives 1 1/2 years).
------
Sizes and shapes. Most gutters come in several sizes and shapes called profiles. These include U shapes as well K configurations, in addition be sure to look at the designer style or window box gutter. Gutter channels are available in 4-, 5- or 6-in. diameters; 5-in. Ks are the most common. You'll also find downspout choices that include 2X3-in. or 3X4-in. rectangular shapes, as well as 3- or 4-in. round pipes. Particularly in leafy areas and longer runs, use larger downspouts, which minimize clogs.
--------
Gauge
When buying any metal gutters, choose the thickest you can afford - optimally .032 in. Though .027-, .025- and .019-in.-thick gutters are available, they won't hold up as well. Of course steel is much stronger and will last longer than aluminum. But it does cost a bit more.
When buying aluminum gutters, insist on primary aluminum, which is the thickest and most consistent kind. Avoid secondary aluminum, a recycled product that's often plagued by inconsistent thickness.
-------
Color. Aluminum and steel gutters come in more than 25 different colors - ideal for matching trim and house colors. Aluminum Gutter colors are baked on at the factory. Some steel gutters come with a maintenance PVC (vinyl coating). Never needs painting and looks great for years and years. If you like the look of copper but not the price, Alcoa sells a faux-copper gutter made of aluminum. Called Musket Brown, it sells for about $9 per linear foot installed.
--------

portions taken from Dan Vandervort

This Old House

Gutter,Gutter prices,Metal gutter,Steel gutter,Gutter downspout,Rain gutter machine, Gutter design,Rain gutter,Seamless gutter,Gutter machine, Gutter installation, How to install gutter,Installing gutter,Gutter supply,Gutter and downspouts,Gutter system, Gutter repair,Vinyl gutter,Aluminum gutter,Gutter cleaner,Gutter hanger,Gutter drain,Gutter coilGutter world,Installing rain gutter,Gutter guys,Rain gutter installation,Custom gutter,Pvc gutter,Gutter estimate,Home gutter,Gutter colors,Gutter king,Gutter company,Gutter and downspout,Gutter stuff,K guard gutter

The Gutter Truth

2005-06-23T05:42:00.000-07:00

The Gutter Truth - This Old House Almanac
Gutters do more than keep the rain from running onto your head as you fumble with the door key. Gutters form the first line of defense against a wet basement or crawl space. They're not the most glamorous element of your home, but neglect them at your own peril. This is one example of an ounce of prevention's being worth a pound or more of cure.

Gutter Installation - Do It Yourself

2005-06-20T17:37:00.000-07:00

Gutter Installation Do It Yourself

Degree of difficulty – Very Involved

Take down the old gutter. Inspect and repair the fascia if needed. Snap a level chalk line across the top of the fascia for reference. Run a string to mark the slope from the high end of the run to the drop outlet site.Allow for a gutter pitch of 1/4-inch per 10 feet. Attach brackets every 30 inches along the sloped line. Runs of 35 feet or longer should slope from a high point at the middle of the run to outlets at each end.

Connect the gutter pieces on the ground before installing them, starting with the drop outlet piece. Put on the end cap; then connect the drop outlet to one of the long gutter pieces using a special gutter connector with a gasketlike seal. To make the seal more watertight, apply a small bead of caulk to the inside surface of the connector and the end cap.

Measure the length of the run from the high point to the outlet. Cut the gutter piece, with the drop outlet attached, to fit the length. Use metal snips or a hacksaw, keeping the edges straight so they will fit into the connector, if needed, or the end cap. Mount the gutter on the brackets, and caulk the inside of the connecting pieces. Snap the clips on top of the brackets.

Attach an elbow to the drop outlet and one to the downspout. Have someone on the ground hold the downspout against the wall of the house, then measure the distance between the two elbows. Cut a piece of downspout to fit, attaching it to the elbows by sliding it over the elbow coming from the drop outlet and inside the elbow coming from the downspout. Do most of the assembly on the ground.

Fasten the downspout to the wall with straps or brackets spaced 6 to 8 feet apart and held in place by screws, nails, or masonry fasteners. Attach an elbow and a piece of pipe to the bottom of the downspout to direct water away from the foundation. A splash block placed beneath the spout helps disperse the water and keeps it from washing away the soil.

Or Have Us

Do It Right The First Time

Seamless Gutter Protection

2005-06-19T13:46:00.000-07:00

Seamless Gutters are an integral part of your home and although not as noticeable as siding or a roof, play the most important role in the health of your home. Of all the enemies posed by the elements, Water is the biggest culprit.

Poor functioning gutters are actually more of a menace than no gutters at all. If water is not properly channeled away from your home, it will invariably be directed AT your home. That is why having new, properly functioning seamless gutters is some of the best money you can spend on your home.

In addition, most basements are not watertight compartments. If ground water builds up too high next to your basement eventually it will find a way in. Proper gutters direct all of that rainwater away from the ground next to your basement and out into harmless territory.

There are many types of gutters for you to choose from including different types of materials. The very best material today is steel. This material is extremely durable and lends itself extremely well to the creation of seamless gutters which are manufactured right at the job from steel gutter stock. The length is measured, the stock rolled through a gutter machine, which creates the shape, then cut and installed to perfect seamless length.

Often homeowners will choose to install Gutter Helmet as well to prevent leaf build up and clogging. Gutter helmet is an excellent way to accomplish this.

Poor rainwater drainage can lead to costly repairs

Poor rainwater drainage can lead to costly repairs It is always important that seam less gutters and down spouts clear away water quickly and efficiently from the roof of a house. Bad rainwater draining, if ignored, creates the probability of expensive repair bills - which cannot be put off!!

That is why new seamless gutters are worth the expense. Besides you might be surprised how affordable they are. Seamless gutters can be created and installed on your home in one day.

Kellom ABC Seamless is here to assist you
We are fortunate enough to have a highly trained professional staf of installers who specialize in seamless gutter installation.

Call 262-255-5513
Ask for Joe T.

Get A Free Gutter Quote Today!

Specifications
Seamless Steel
28 Gauge with a 5 Mil PVC finish
5", 6" & 7" Available
Fascia Style & K-Style
More than 1 1/2 times water carrying capacity than the traditional gutter
Regular or magnum downspouts
Aluminum also Available

Numerous colors available in Steel and Aluminum
Lifetime manufacturer's warranty
No unsightly seams that cause leaking
Will not warp, rust, peel, chip, blister, expand, contract or buckle
Increases the value of your home

Coordinate your siding, soffit, fascia, trims, and gutters to a perfect match with ABC Seamless
Residential & Commercial

Designer Style Gutter

2005-06-18T13:59:00.000-07:00

Designer "F" Style GutterAn ABC Seamless Exclusive
Seamless PVC Coated Steel Gutter - Eliminates leaking seams and provides a more attractive house or office building
Same Five (5) mil PVC finish as ABC Seamless Siding- Will not chip, peel, crack or rust; maintenance free
Larger tha other styles - Designed for heavy rains, like those during our New Mexico monsoon season
Internal Steel Bracket Mounting System - Stronger and more attractive than the old nail and ferrule system
Available in 15 colors - To match or coordinate with downspouts, sofit, facia and siding
Lifetime Transferable Warranty - Ten year labor warranty

Gutter repair,Vinyl gutter,Aluminum gutter,Gutter cleaner,Gutter hanger,Gutter drain,Gutter coilGutter world,Installing rain gutter,Gutter guys,Rain gutter installation,Custom gutter,Pvc gutter,Gutter estimate,Home gutter,Gutter colors,Gutter king,Gutter company,Gutter and downspout,Gutter stuff,K guard gutter

Welcome

2005-06-14T16:48:00.000-07:00

Compare ABC Seamless to the other guys...

you will find there is no comparison.
- Lifetime Warranty

- Extended Labor Warranty

- Hail Warranty

- PVC Coating will not crack

- Virtually Maintenance Free

- Increase Home Value

- Saves You Money

----

Ask for Joe T.

262-255-5513

Kellom Kompany

Sizing Gutter Systems: Gutter 303

2005-06-08T06:40:00.000-07:00

From the pages of Fine Homebuilding Magazine

Sizing Gutter Systems - A three-step approach helps you calculate the best size for your houseby Andy Engel

Gutters are essential to the longevity of most homes. Without gutters and downspouts leading rainwater away from the house, foundations become feedlots for mold that can sicken your family and rot your house.

Once you've settled on a material, and a profile, you'll need to pick a size. This procedure for sizing your gutter system is based on roof size, your area's likely rainfall intensity, gutter volume and downspout size and frequency.

1. Calculate your roof's watershed area -- A roof's watershed area isn't obvious. Maximum rainfall is likely wind driven, so steep roofs may collect more water than flat roofs. To figure a roof's watershed area, multiply its surface area by the appropriate factor on the table.

2. Find the maximum likely rainfall intensity -- Residential gutters are often planned to handle the most intense five-minute burst of rain, measured in inches per hour, that's likely to occur in a ten-year period. Find yours on the map.

3. Determine the gutter needed to drain your watershed -- Divide your favored gutter's 1-in.-per-hour watershed (see the chart below) by the five-minute rainfall intensity (from the map above). This determines the maximum watershed level gutters can serve between downspouts.

Pitch your gutters by 1/8 in. per ft., and you can multiply the watershed by 1.4.

Each square inch of downspout cross section can drain 100 sq. ft. of watershed. So a 2-in. by 3-in. spout drains up to 600 sq. ft., and a 3-in. by 4-in. spout drains 1,200 sq. ft.

Going from one downspout to two doubles the watershed that a section of gutter can drain.

Watershed drained by gutters at 1 in. rain per hour

5 in. K-style:5520 sq. ft.

6-in. K-style: 7960 sq. ft.

Sample house -- An 8-in-12 pitch shed roof in Washington D. C. is 40 ft. wide, and its rafter length is 20 ft. The roof's area is 800 sq. ft. The pitch factor for an 8-in-12 pitch roof is 1.1; when multiplied by 800 sq. ft., that gives a watershed of 880 sq. ft. The theoretical 5,520-sq. ft. watershed drained by a 5-in. K-style gutter, divided by Washington's 6.6-in.-per-hr. rainfall intensity, shows a maximum watershed of 836 sq. ft. Close, but to be safe, the builder should either pitch the gutter, use a larger gutter or add another downspout.

Andy Engel is senior editor at Fine Homebuilding.
Drawing: Dan Thornton

P.S. We highly recommend this publication

Gutter Parts 101

2005-06-03T07:15:00.000-07:00

Gutter Coil
Leader
Pipe Cleat
Pipe Band
Leader Head
Funnel
A Elbow
Zig Zag Elbow
B Elbow
A Elbow 30"
End Cap
Pop in Outlet
K Outlet
Flat Strain
Louvered G
Mesh G
Wedge
Box Miter I
Box Miter O
Strip Miter I
Strip Miter O
Bay Miter I
Bay Miter O
Hidden Hang w/Screw
Hidden Hang HD
FSH Bar Hang
Suspended SST Bar Hang
SST Bar Hang
Combination Hang
Canadian Hang
Spike
Ferrule
Wrap Around Hang
Fascia Han
Zip Screw
Masonry Nail
Rivet
Pallet Nail
Touch Up Paint
Sealers, Caulking

Plumbers Rule

2005-04-04T06:17:00.000-07:00

&^%$ Flows Downhill

Quality

2004-06-22T11:27:00.000-07:00

"Quality Happens When

We Care Enough

To Do Our Best"

-unknown-

ABC Seamless Gutter Advantages

2004-06-20T13:36:00.000-07:00

ABC Seamless not only provides the highest quality siding products, but also the finest rain gutter system for our customers. Using the same materials for our gutters that we use for our siding, ABC Seamless will custom fit rain gutters to your home at any length, thus eliminating any Quacks.

ABC Seamless rain gutters have several advantages over traditional gutters:
First, our rain gutters are approximately 23% bigger, allowing more water to be carried away from your home.

Second, ABC Seamless uses only hidden hangers to attach your new gutters to your home. These hangers are invisible from the ground and add additional strength verses traditional spikes and ferrules.

Third, our PVC finish is thicker than the traditional enamel finish and can be matched exactly to any other ABC Seamless product.

Fourth, the ABC Seamless gutter has a unique shape, designed to blend cleanly with your home's trim.

Lastly, ABC Seamless downspouts are made with flip-up extensions, eliminating nuisances during mowing and carrying water safely away from your home's foundation