How to install Aluminium Gutters

Our extruded Aluminium Gutters are sleek and stylish and come in a range of colours meaning they will be a great match whatever your property. The contemporary clean look with a high flow capacity makes it perfect for a number of applications, such as self-builds, refurbishments, and housing developments.

So, you’ve decided on your gutter and you've placed your order, now you’re ready to install – take a look at our handy installation guide to help.

Aluminium Gutters: Materials Needed Checklist

Ensure you have the following items available ready for your installation: 

• Spirit level (straight edge)
• Screwdriver
• Sealant caulking gun
• Chalk, pencil, string or a laser line
• Hacksaw, electric jigsaw, or chop saw
• Tape measure
• Small wrench
• Ladder

Be sure to check out our supplies if you are missing any of the items.

Before you Begin Your Installation

Handling and Storage

Take extra care when handling gutter supplies with a polyester powder coat finish.

Gutters, downpipes, and fittings should be handled with care and stored under covers on a rack to prevent scratching.

If ordering well in advance of installation it is advised that you store painted products inside, but if you must store them outside, ensure they are covered with tarpaulin as this helps protect against direct sunlight and rainfall.

Additionally, if water is trapped inside the protective covering and is also exposed to warm sunlight it may leave permanent watermarks on the paint finish.

Drilling and Cutting

Standard metalworking tools, excluding angle grinders, can be used to cut and drill the gutter sections.

If you cut the edges of gutters or fittings that are powder-coated, they should be de-burred and then repainted using top-up paint.

Positioning the Gutter

Gutters may be laid level or to a fall of 1:600.

Take extra care to confirm the gutters are not laid too low, otherwise, rainfall overshoots the gutter, or too high, so that damage could be caused by sliding snow.

Jointing

ARPs low modulus sealant MUST be used to prevent early failure. The gutter joint sockets, or spigots, must be correctly aligned with each other to allow for free thermal movement (3-4mm) within the gutter joint.

All joint surfaces must be impeccably clean and dry.

You must not use sealant in wet weather or temperatures below 5°C or above 50°C.

Fixing

The fixings chosen must be suitable for both the substrate and the load. Therefore, they must be correctly sized and manufactured with an appropriate material to ensure no electrolytic corrosion occurs.

It's recommended that austenitic stainless-steel screws are used when fixing our extruded aluminium gutters, whether direct, fascia or rafter bracket fixed.

	Fascia Brackets	Direct Fix	Rafter Brackets	Rise & Fall Brackets
Beaded Half Round	Y	N	Y	Y

Aluminium Gutter Installation Guide

It is important that the fascia board (fixing background) is securely fixed, level, and able to support the weight of the gutter under full load.

Then follow the steps below appropriately based on your decision:

Fixings and gutters

1. First, fit a bracket at each end of the run (roofline) and make sure they are positioned correctly for an angle or stop-end.
2. The brackets should be placed 150mm away from the gutter corner to allow for the length of the gutter corner piece.
3. Using a string line or laser level, between the first two brackets, measure out where you will apply your brackets.
   
   It is recommended you fix a bracket every 750mm, but no further. You can use an additional bracket for each outlet or angle.

4. Using a plumb or laser line, position the outlets over the gullies and support them with at least one bracket.

   Use an additional bracket for each angle, internal or external.

5. When attaching the gutter, be sure to tuck the rear face of the gutter underneath the roof finish when you are fitting outlets.

   Position the gutter into the fascia bracket and clip the front edge into position.

   After fitting outlets and angles, continue with fitting the rest of the gutter lengths using the same method.

6. Once you are happy that all the fixing surfaces are clean and dry, place the union into the groove in the rear face of the gutter and clip it down into place on the front edge.

   Repeat this procedure until you have finished.

7. Prepare your low modulus sealant by trimming 4-5mm off the top of the nozzle so it fits the large holes in the base of the union.

   Once you have prepared the nozzle of the sealant, gently inject the sealant into the supplied holes in the bottom of the union until the sealant appears at both smaller holes at the rim of the union.

   Repeat this procedure on the large hole on the other side.

8. Always apply the sealant tenderly to ensure the void is completed filled.

   Be sure to clean off any excess sealant.

   Repeat the procedure for every joint until the work is completed.

Cleaning & Maintenance

After installation, be sure to check out our extensive guide detailing how to clean and maintain your aluminium gutters.