How to replace a rainwater system

Diverting rainwater away from your house quickly with guttering and downpipes is essential to help protect the foundations of your home and its overall exterior aesthetic. If you're a gardener, you may want to store the rainwater from your downpipes and guttering in a water butt so that you can conserve water in the drier months of the year.

Level of difficulty

Level 3: Advanced

What you need

  • Tape measure
  • Ladder
  • Chalk
  • Power drill
  • Screws
  • Gutter brackets
  • Gutters
  • Hacksaw
  • Roof and gutter sealant
  • Stop ends
  • Caulking gun
  • Caulk
  • Downpipes
  • Brackets

The steps to follow

1. Measure the area where you're planning to install the new gutters. Mark the highest point of the gutter run to the lowest point (near the downspout).
2. Drill holes into rafter tails and fasten gutter brackets with lag screws. Leave a space of about 50 cm (20 in) between each gutter bracket.
3. Measure the length of the gutter you plan to install and cut to length with a hacksaw. If you're cutting a corner gutter, cut it at a 45 degree angle.
4. Place the gutter on the gutter brackets. Tip one end of the gutter higher than the other side.
5. Drill holes in the front edge of the gutter and thread screws into the gutter bracket.
6. Secure the gutter to the gutter bracket with screws.
7. If you're connecting two gutters, overlap the edges by 12 cm (5 in) and apply roof and gutter sealant to the edges.
8. Drill four holes along the overlapping edges and fasten with four screws.
9. Attach stop ends at the end of the gutter.
10. Drill four holes around the edge of the stop ends and secure it to the gutter with four screws.
11. Apply caulk paste on the inside of the gutter for a watertight joint.

To install downpipes
12. Trace a downspout hole at the end of the gutter and cut along with a hacksaw. The diameter of the downspout hole should be around 10 cm (4 in).
13. Fit the cut end of the downpipe into the downspout hole.
14. Drill five holes around the edge of the downpipe and fasten it with screws.
15. Apply caulk paste around the joints.
16. Position the downpipes against the wall.
17. Secure the downpipes to the wall with brackets and screws.

Please note that all our DIY guides and 'Expert answers' advice have been written strictly for reference only. Rated People do not accept any liability for any damage caused to an individual, property or anything else as a result of following our DIY guides and using our 'Expert answers' advice.