How To Shorten A Gutter Downspout

Increasing the pitch increases a gutter s handling capacity but the gutter may look askew over a long run.

How to shorten a gutter downspout.

Then with the combination square transfer the line down each side of the aluminum gutter. Buy a length of plastic corrigated drain hose and a downspout adapter and stick it on the end of the downspout. Cut the downspout with your. Just cut the downspout at a 45 degree angle with a tin snips or metal cutting blade and fasten the two piece zip hinge sold at home centers or online with eight sheet metal screws.

Use a carpenter s square to get around to the bottom. This one s a popular solution for a few good reasons. Use longer extensions to make sure you re getting all that water away from your home. Extend the cut mark around the aluminum gutter by aligning the blade of the combination square with the length mark you placed on the bottom surface of the aluminum gutter and running the carpenter s pencil along the edge of the combination square blade.

Place your tape measure at the flat of the main. Use a hacksaw to cut this length from the uncrimped end of a downspout tube. The above recommendations assume that you have properly sized downspouts every 40 feet. Hold another elbow against the wall and measure between them.

Laying your gutter on the workbench measure off the amount of gutter you want to cut and mark it with a pencil. Let s get into the six best methods we ve found for extending your home s downspouts. Measure from the bottom of the main gutter to the ground. As with gutters a downspout s capacity must match or exceed the expected runoff.

Screw an elbow to the downspout outlet. The standard is about inch per 10 feet. Overlap at each end. 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.

Hook the tape measure. To be safe aim for a 4 foot minimum extension away from a downspout. Allow for a 1 1 2 in. Using a fine 24 or 32 tooth per inch blade in a hacksaw cut off what you need.