How To Shorten A Gutter Downspout

Allow for a 1 1 2 in.

How to shorten a gutter downspout. Let s get into the six best methods we ve found for extending your home s downspouts. Buy a length of plastic corrigated drain hose and a downspout adapter and stick it on the end of the downspout. 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. Transfer your measurement to the downspout and make a mark on both sides with your pencil.

Overlap at each end. Cut the downspout with your. Remove the elbow from the end of the downspout. 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.

Laying your gutter on the workbench measure off the amount of gutter you want to cut and mark it with a pencil. Use a hacksaw to cut this length from the uncrimped end of a downspout tube. Using a fine 24 or 32 tooth per inch blade in a hacksaw cut off what you need. 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.

The standard is about inch per 10 feet. To be safe aim for a 4 foot minimum extension away from a downspout. This one s a popular solution for a few good reasons. Hook the tape measure.

Increasing the pitch increases a gutter s handling capacity but the gutter may look askew over a long run. Place your tape measure at the flat of the main. As with gutters a downspout s capacity must match or exceed the expected runoff. Use longer extensions to make sure you re getting all that water away from your home.

Screw an elbow to the downspout outlet. Use a carpenter s square to get around to the bottom. How to cut a downspout step 1. Then with the combination square transfer the line down each side of the aluminum gutter.