You don’t need a professional arsenal, but a few items will save your sanity. Get a gutter hanger kit with hidden brackets (they look cleaner than the ugly spike-and-ferrule method). Buy a level—the 4-foot kind is perfect for checking the slope. And invest in a cordless drill with a screwdriver bit; hand-screwing 50 brackets will make you question your life choices. Pro tip: wear gloves. The edges of cut aluminum are sharper than a cat’s attitude when you forget its dinner.
How To Install Aluminum Gutters
Installation: The “Pivot” Moment
Start at the downspout side of the house. Attach the first bracket under the roof drip edge, about 2 inches from the end. Then work your way down the slope, checking the level every few feet. If the gutter sags in the middle, add an extra bracket—it’s better to have too many than to watch your gutter belly-dance in a rainstorm. When joining sections, use a snap-lock connector and smear a bead of silicone sealant inside. Don’t skip the sealant; I once did, and the joint dripped like a leaky faucet. For corners, buy pre-molded inside and outside corners. Trying to bend aluminum yourself is an exercise in frustration that ends with a crumpled mess and a bad mood.
