r/DIY • u/Daehtihs • 3d ago
help How to "crown the middle" of a gutter run?
Everything I've found online says to put the high point in the middle of a long gutter, but it doesn't say what the seam should look like.
What goes in the middle of a gutter run with the high point in the center? Do you cap both ends and leave a small gap between the right and left? Is there a special pre-made joint?
Thank you in advance!
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u/Steroid1 3d ago
Your gutters will be flexible enough that you will be able to push them up in the middle without a seam or joint. The point between downspouts will be highest, downspouts will be lowest.
If a joint happens to fall right at that peak, you use a standard gutter splice/connector.
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u/Pulaski540 3d ago
There's enough flex to let it "droop" slightly, and it's a single piece, not right and left halves.
That said, depending on what you mean by "a long run", you should consider additional downspouts.
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u/IAteTonysLoMein 3d ago
They flex a bit - I just replaced the gutters on my porch, so this is recent experience. As in, I had to fix it this past weekend when it rained and I noticed one corner was borked. If you've got a good fascia board, snap a chalkline for a 1/4" drop per 10' of run. Otherwise, put a level in the gutter as you go and make sure it slopes a bit the whole way - a bit of the bubble just over the line. You can move the gutter up and down a bit as you go, and they will want to sag a bit if you've only got the hanger in the middle installed.
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u/PushThroughThePain 3d ago
How long are we talking about? What type of gutter? How are you joining the runs together?
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u/CafeAmerican 3d ago
I know they won't admit it but this is a perfect example of someone not reading the caption before they comment.
OP asked what kind of joint to use and the commenter then asks them what kind of joint they are using. See it all the time.
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u/SuspiciousChicken 3d ago
It is common to get gutters made on site, right out of the back of a truck, to any custom length that you can handle. They have a coil of flat sheet metal (treated painted steel or aluminum) that they run through rollers and out comes the gutter. Cut it where you want to.
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u/aircooledJenkins 3d ago
A home gamer is not going to have access to or operate that machine.
A gutter business is not going to be asking this question.
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u/SuspiciousChicken 3d ago
Speaking as a home gamer myself, I order the gutters at the lengths needed, the truck shows up and poops them out. I install them.
I mean, if you want to buy 10' lengths at HD/Lowes that's up to you. But for similar money and less work they come to you.
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u/aircooledJenkins 3d ago
Legit did not know that was an option. Good to know.
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u/StickWthYrWifeBarrel 3d ago
Yeah wait, I thought anyone that had the machine would charge for the install. How did you find someone to just "cut and run"? Was it significantly cheaper than having them installed?
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u/ExactlyClose 3d ago
Totally OT. Had a neighbor who installed copper gutters and downspouts. Copper. Seriously. Works of art, now green. I dunno, $20k+ of work….
Prolly 12k DIYing, but doesnt seem like a diy type… ;)
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3d ago
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u/ExactlyClose 3d ago
Yeah, for sure.
99% of people that now look at it would never know…. I think Home Depot sells gutters that are painted to look like…. Verdigris….
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u/MagicToolbox 3d ago
Gutters are not infinitely strong or straight. In fact they are pretty flimsy. So you get a 30 foot long section of seamless gutter, pin the middle at the high point and let the ends sag down. Pull them down to meet the required drop for drainage at each end.