Should You Seal Gutter Hanger Screws

Give your gutters an apron.

Should you seal gutter hanger screws.

Gutter sealer comes in squeezable or in calking gun tubes and the price can run you from about 5 to 10 depending on the amount and quality. The screws should be at least two inches long to hold the gutter clip firmly in place. One trick i have found that works on tight edge and it still is a bear is to not clip the hangers on the back edge of the gutter just let them hang kinda inside then slide the gutter up under the de raise the hanger app. To wear it would be and shoot it in you have to make sure though that your screw goes through the back wall of the gutter.

Insert the drop outlet in the hole and fasten the new downspout with sheet metal screws. If you live in a warm place with sporadic rain you can hang gutter hangers close to the middle of the gutter with a spacing of no more than 36 inches or three feet apart from the center. Gutter nails or spikes used to hold rain gutters in place can work themselves loose with seasonal movement. Make sure to seal the drop outlet to the gutter with seam sealer.

Gutter sealing happens from the inside of the gutter. You only need to put a few of them in the spots where the spikes are pulling out and then add galvanized spikes at other empty rafter spots. You should never need to apply sealer to the outside of the gutter. Sometimes rainwater makes its way down between the gutters and the walls even.

The gutter screws are a lot more work though. Gutters that are too high can enable runoff water to drip down their back side which in turn can cause deteriorating fascia boards and stains on siding. The large screws included with the hangers we used are a little tricky to get started especially through steel gutters and flashing. The gutter apron will prevent you from slipping the hangers over the back edge of the gutter as intended.

I like to use a squeezable tube for gutter sealer because it is easier to handle. For rainy climates where gutters will handle a larger amount of water for long periods they should have a maximum distance of 18 inches apart between them. One downspout one drop outlet three elbows and two wall clips will cost about 40 at a home center. Spin them at high speed without applying much pressure until the screw tip bites into the metal.

The screws once in are very strong and will never pull out.