Galvanized steel box gutters
After a gutter measurement is taken and the appropriate length is extruded, additional measurements are taken for accessories that are required on these gutter systems. Drop tube locations are determined where downspouts will be placed, end caps are installed where the gutter will terminate on the home and miters are hand cut where two gutters meet at inside or outside corners of the roof system. These accessories are fastened with aluminum pop rivets to ensure that unsightly rust stains from steel zip screws will not show up on your newly installed gutter system. After cutting and installing these additional accessories, the gutter is then lifted into place and a level is used to drain water from high points to downspout locations that were previously determined. These gutter accessories are then sealed with a manufacturer recommended gutter sealant.
Once the gutter is properly placed and drainage requirements are met, hidden gutter screws are then installed through the fascia boards and into the rafter tails of the home to ensure that a gutter does not pull loose and detach from the structure of your home. This is especially important in areas like Louisville and Southern Indiana where snow and ice build-up can create large amounts of weight for the gutter to endure.
Other important components that are installed during this process are gutter apron (drip edge), splash guards, and water diverters. Gutter apron is a piece of flashing that is designed to be installed under your roofing underlayment and shingles that will direct water into your gutter. Houses that do not have gutter apron or drip edge installed can allow water to get behind the gutter and can prematurely deteriorate your fascia boards, soffits and landscaping. Splash guards and water diverters are also important accessories as they keep water from overflowing the gutter in high drainage areas such as valleys.
Most commonly installed gutter systems on residential homes are comprised of 6 inch gutters with 3 inch by 4 inch rectangular downspouts. Contact a Deer Park Roofing staff member to learn more about your home’s individual drainage requirements.
- Be careful of quick or cheap fixes or coatings. Most box gutters that are leaking will require wood replacement. Applying tar, caulk, or rubber over a leaking box gutter is not a good long term solution and is usually a waste of money.
- Do not install a new metal liner over an existing one. It is always best to remove the box gutter lining and replace any damaged wood beneath the copper or terne metal. Moisture can become trapped between the two metal linings within the system.
- Roof systems with box gutters usually create ideal situations for ice dams, especially in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. These conditions include poor insulation and ventilation combined with a significant overhang at the eaves. An ice and water membrane should always be installed on roofs that have box gutters.
- Stainless steel outlet tubes should be used on all box gutter systems. Galvanized outlet tubes are impossible to maintain (since they are too small to paint) after they are installed. Stainless steel tubes are slightly more expensive but maintenance free.
- Red rosin paper should be installed over the wood and beneath the sheet metal instead of roofing felt. Rosin paper is a slip sheet between the wood structure and the metal lining. Thermal movement of the box gutter system is an important design consideration on each project. Copper and Stainless steel linings will expand and contract at a faster rate than galvanized steel and expansion joints should be installed on these systems.
- Box gutters should be secured beneath the roof system with fasteners and hooked to a continuous cleat along the face of the gutter. Thermal movement is directed away from the fasteners and the system is able to ‘float’ within the hook strip. This design reduces stress on the solder joints and ensures the longevity of the box gutter system.
- Hook strips should consist of a material that is at least one gage thicker than the material of the lining. The minimum thickness for a steel box gutter lining is 26 gage steel and the minimum thickness for the hook strip is 24 gage steel.
- All box gutter seams, corners, and outlets should be riveted and then soldered. Caulk or roof cement should never be applied to new box gutters.
- Some homeowners choose to install galvanized steel metal linings instead of copper (due to cost). If galvanized steel metal linings are installed they must be painted with a direct to metal primer then with an exterior paint.
For more information about box gutter repair or replacement, please email us. You can also view gutter colors or request an estimate online.
Deer Park Roofing has five full time box gutter crews with years of experience to ensure every installation is a success.
3 Reasons Not to Remove Box Gutters
Some contractors (who are not experienced in the replacement of box gutters) may recommend the removal of a box gutter system (including framing) to accommodate a new and less expensive aluminum gutter system. Deer Park Roofing, Inc. does not recommend the removal or elimination of a built in gutter system from an existing structure for the following architectural reasons:
- Eliminating the eaves from a residential structure will cause greater exposure to sunlight on the walls of the house when the sun is high in the sky (summer). This can make a home uncomfortably warm in the summer. There are no thermal benefits in the winter months because the sun is lower in the sky and the existence of eaves has very little impact on shading.
- The overhang that is created by the box gutters protects the walls of the house from moisture. Eliminating the overhang can enable water to infiltrate through the windows or siding.
- The overhang also keeps water away from the foundation of the house. Eliminating 1 to 2 feet of roofline on a house will have negative implications on the moisture levels in the ground near the basement walls.
For more information about box gutter repair or replacement, please email us. You can also view gutter colors or request an estimate online.
Deer Park Roofing has five full time box gutter crews with years of experience to ensure every installation is a success.
7 Steps for Installing Galvanized Steel Box Gutters
- The old box gutter lining should be removed and all damaged wood must be replaced. A 24 gauge pre-finished hook strip is installed to enable the box gutter system to expand and contract without damaging the liner. The amount of thermal movement in a box gutter system varies according to the orientation of the sun, the type of metal liner, and the length of each continuous section.
2. Red Rosin paper is installed as a slip sheet between the steel box gutter lining and the wood substrate.
3. A 26 gauge galvanized steel liner is custom fabricated and installed in the box gutters with all necessary outlets and miters.
4. Stainless steel outlet tubes last longer than galvanized outlet tubes and are easier to maintain as it is nearly impossible to paint them.
6. All seams and outlets in the box gutters are riveted and soldered to prevent leakage.
7. Roofing materials are installed and a primer is applied to the box gutters.
8. A direct to metal paint is applied to the box gutters.
For more information about box gutter repair or replacement, please email us. You can also view gutter colors or request an estimate online.
Deer Park Roofing has five full-time box gutter crews with years of experience to ensure every installation is a success.
News & Resources
Understanding Thermal Movement
Understanding thermal movement in residential metal roof systems is key to long-term performance Roofing contractors often are amazed at the time-tested craftsmanship of sheet-metal systems that are removed from historical structures. It’s not uncommon for some of these systems to…
Ice Dams
Several factors contributed to problem roofing area in the above photo. Even though the shingles were in good condition and installed properly, leaks were occurring in the winter months due to ice dams. To remedy the situation, the homeowner installed…
Rubber (EPDM) Roof Repair
Rubber (EPDM) Roof Repair Deer Park Roofing, Inc. was contracted to perform maintenance to this commercial property located in downtown Cincinnati. The first photo shows the Rubber (EPDM) ballasted by concrete pavers. The roof had several leaks and was in…
Hail Damage to Roof Systems
Hail Damage to Roof Systems Hail storms can cause significant damage to all types of roofing systems, including asphalt shingles. Hail damage to roofs can be identified by discovering distress marks on the surface of the roof. In the case…
Shingle Recycling Program
Shingle Recycling Program Something New to Recycle – Your Old Roof Deer Park Roofing is doing everything we can to reduce our carbon footprint and develop sustainable practices, including asphalt shingle recycling. Landfills everywhere are overflowing with construction debris…
Solder Versus Caulk
Solder A metal alloy that is used for permanently bonding metal flashings together. The word solder is derived from the Latin term solidare which means “to make solid”. Most solder, especially used in a roofing application, is made up of…
