If you have hidden (built-in) gutters, then you probably have or will have "hidden gutter nightmares". Taking 5 minutes to read the "HIDDEN GUTTER NIGHTMARES" article above may save you tens of thousands of dollars before you purchase a home or hire someone to "fix" your hidden gutters.
The photos below show how we are removing the hidden gutters on this home and replacing them with Nordic Steel half round gutters. I'll add some more photos once we finish. Today is September 21, 2024 and we'll be done before November. So, come back and see our solution to the 180 degree radius. We had to keep a hidden gutter style here and so we rebuilt it out of stainless steel and welded together.
The photos below show how we are removing the hidden gutters on this home and replacing them with Nordic Steel half round gutters. I'll add some more photos once we finish. Today is September 21, 2024 and we'll be done before November. So, come back and see our solution to the 180 degree radius. We had to keep a hidden gutter style here and so we rebuilt it out of stainless steel and welded together.
Along the straight sections, we removed the old leaking hidden gutters, extended the roof and added additional rows of slate and our favorite Nordic Steel half round gutters. We've mostly finished the left side and the right side is still untouched in this photo.
We chose to build the radius section out of stainless steel and fully weld the sections watertight. The bottom is 11 gauge (1/8" thick) and slopes 1/8" per foot to each downspout to promote drainage. The sides are 14 gauge (3/32") and the top pieces are 16 gauge (1/16"). The front lip is 3/16" x 1.5" stainless steel flat bar. Some of the wood crown molding will be replaced before the scaffolding comes down.
We chose this construction technique over soldered copper for strength and longevity. Copper could work, but most likely future workers would dent it, walk in it, and over stress the soldered joints. We often see copper hidden gutters fail within a couple years due to poor expansion and contraction allowances, workmanship, and abuse from handymen. This stainless gutter should look the exact same 100-200 years from now.
We chose to build the radius section out of stainless steel and fully weld the sections watertight. The bottom is 11 gauge (1/8" thick) and slopes 1/8" per foot to each downspout to promote drainage. The sides are 14 gauge (3/32") and the top pieces are 16 gauge (1/16"). The front lip is 3/16" x 1.5" stainless steel flat bar. Some of the wood crown molding will be replaced before the scaffolding comes down.
We chose this construction technique over soldered copper for strength and longevity. Copper could work, but most likely future workers would dent it, walk in it, and over stress the soldered joints. We often see copper hidden gutters fail within a couple years due to poor expansion and contraction allowances, workmanship, and abuse from handymen. This stainless gutter should look the exact same 100-200 years from now.
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Expansion and contraction of each 90 degree section is calculated to be 3/16" of an inch. So, we are building in an expansion joint and the entire gutter system "floats" and is free to move with the aid of our radius'd 16 gauge stainless clips (not shown) which will wrap around the 1/4" rod along the top.
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A fun little "before" ... and "almost done" photo.
Video showing how the gutter will be secured, allowed to expand/contract, and how the membrane will be clamped once it wraps over the 1/4" round bar lip.
Setting up safe access to do the necessary slate repairs (anywhere above our gutter work). The original hidden gutter, below the white aluminum "repairs" rusted through and leaked. Of course the aluminum repairs failed and leaked as well.
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We slope the new gutters 1/16" to 1/8" per foot to the downspout and hammer the gutter lip gently over into the new opening. This technique (zero lip at the opening) encourages debris to go down the downspout and not create a dam to catch more debris. It's much better if gutters can drain completely ... unless you love mosquitos. We also installed a gutter clean out in the downspout at the ground level.
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The new Nordic Steel half round gutter is installed and the downspout box is given new life. Almost done with the trim repairs in this photo.
