How To Shorten A Gutter Downspout

How to cut a downspout step 1.

How to shorten a gutter downspout.

Screw an elbow to the downspout outlet. Transfer your measurement to the downspout and make a mark on both sides with your pencil. The standard is about inch per 10 feet. Use a hacksaw to cut this length from the uncrimped end of a downspout tube.

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. As with gutters a downspout s capacity must match or exceed the expected runoff. 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. Hook the tape measure.

This one s a popular solution for a few good reasons. To be safe aim for a 4 foot minimum extension away from a downspout. Buy a length of plastic corrigated drain hose and a downspout adapter and stick it on the end of the downspout. Increasing the pitch increases a gutter s handling capacity but the gutter may look askew over a long run.

Hold another elbow against the wall and measure between them. Cut the downspout with your. Laying your gutter on the workbench measure off the amount of gutter you want to cut and mark it with a pencil. Let s get into the six best methods we ve found for extending your home s downspouts.

Measure from the bottom of the main gutter to the ground. Using a fine 24 or 32 tooth per inch blade in a hacksaw cut off what you need. Overlap at each end. Place your tape measure at the flat of the main.

Use a carpenter s square to get around to the bottom. 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. Remove the elbow from the end of the downspout. Then with the combination square transfer the line down each side of the aluminum gutter.