Gutter Fastening Systems

By Dymon BradyA gutter and drainage system can easily be taken for granted, until it begins to have problems. Without the gutter system properly distributing water, your home, lawn and garden are all at risk. These problems are easily prevented if gutters are properly installed by experienced and knowledgeable professionals. For example, simply the way a gutter system is secured to a roof can make a world of difference to it’s potential lifetime.One method of fastening gutter systems is the spike and ferrule system. A spike is driven through the face of the gutter and into the wood fascia behind it. With this technique, the fasteners are visible on the face of the gutters. Not only is does this system look less clean, but it has been proven to cause future problems for your gutters. As snow sits in the gutters, it applies an outward and downward pressure that works the gutter spikes loose over time. For this reason, we avoid this fastening technique.    Our preferred fastening technique is a hidden hanging system. To fasten, a zip hanger screw is fastened at an angle into the fascia, but is not visible from the face of the gutter. Because it is a screw instead of a spike, it has the resistance not to slide out of the wood over time. This system is stronger, it will last longer, and it looks great.   Another viable option includes fastening a strap to the sheathing underneath your roof. The strap wraps around the underside of the gutter, holding it firmly in place. The roofing material covers the strap completely, giving a clean and inconspicuous look. Strap hung gutters are usually installed with a reinforcing bar that holds the straps in place. This bar strengthens gutters under heavy weight of snow and ice.  In addition to considering the installation method that is best for you and your home, be sure to take into account some other important factors. When looking for a roofing and gutter contractor, be sure to have your roofing contractor finish the roof before the gutters are installed. There should be one downspout for every 40 ft, with your gutters installed at a pitch of at least 1/8” per foot. This allows for water, mud, snow and leaves to have somewhere to go instead of sitting stagnant and causing problems down the line.On a commercial building, a 6 inch case style or box style gutter is best. Both of these gutters will be able to handle the volume of water that accompanies a large commercial building. This will help prevent future problems with overflowing or inadequate gutters.Brady Roofing and it’s sister company, Brady Gutters, are knowledgeable of the most effective gutter installation methods and products. After spending more than 20 years on various roofs, we have consistently seen both successful and unsuccessful gutter installations. If you choose Brady Gutters as your gutter specialist, we will help you to experience peace of mind with your gutter installation.