Gutter How To & DIY

Improve the value of your home by discovering our gutter step-by-step tips & ideas.

2011_06_gallery_blue_house

Filed under:

Gutters: How to Choose, Install and Clean Them

We provide you everything you need to know about how to select and maintain these unsung heroes of roof-water management.
Exterior of Home, Gutters

How to Size Gutters and Downspouts

Use this handy guide to make sure your rain collection is up to the task during even the heaviest storm.
Gutters_iStock_1351369579

Are Gutters Necessary? (2022 Guide)

Wondering if gutters are necessary for your home? Read our detailed guide to determine whether or not you need a gutter system.
drainage
Play

Backyard Drainage Solutions

Ask This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook shows Kevin O’Connor a few ways to handle storm water, including French drains, channel drains, and dry wells
Roger Cook installs and demonstrates a rain chain
Play

How to Divert Water Without Gutters or Downspouts

Everyone knows the importance of diverting water away from a house, but sometimes, a traditional gutter and downspout simply won’t work. Roger Cook evaluates a couple alternatives for moving rainwater effectively.
under_deck

Add a Drainage System Under Raised Decks

Learn how to keep the area under a raised deck dry for storage or added living space.
gutters
Play

How To Install an Alternative to Gutters

This Old House general contractor Tom Silva installs a gutter alternative where a traditional gutter does not work—and tells us how to do it.
Gutters that are clear and not clogged.

How To Keep Gutters Running Freely

In this guide, we provide tips on how to keep your running free all year long, as well as three effective gutter guard solutions.
tom_rain_gutter
Play

How to Install a Rain Gutter

Here are the steps, tools, and costs you’ll need to add gutters, downspouts, and rain barrels to your house.
gutter_repair_xl
Play

How To Repair a Gutter

In this guide and video, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva shows us how to perform several common gutter and downspout repairs.
A man installing fiberglass gutters on a roof.

How to Install Fiberglass Gutters in a Few Simple Steps

These factory-molded substitutes look just like traditional wood, but they'll never leak, rot, or need paint, making them a great choice.
gutter_xl
Play

How To Repair a Leaky Gutter

This Old House general contractor Tom Silva shows a homeowner a quick and easy solution for her dripping gutters.
aluminum_gutters_xl
Play

How To Install Aluminum Gutters

Read our step-by-step guide on how to install aluminum gutters for a durable, efficient drainage system that protects your home from water damage.
fix_now_01

Fix Now, Save Later

Our experts help you address 9 little trouble spots around your home before they cause big—as in big bucks—damage down the road
little_devils_gargoyle_x

Gargoyles for Your Home

Dress up your gutters and gardens with these medieval monsters
rain_barrel_02_xl
Play

How To Install a Rainwater Collection Barrel

In this how-to video, This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook shows how to collect valuable rainwater for use in the garden
an illustration of an example of a rain barrel

Rain Barrel Options: A Guide To Sustainable Water Collection

A rain barrel can help conserve water while supercharging your lawn and garden, all while reducing your annual water bills.
Screen_Shot_2021_10_25_at_11.40.55_AM
Play

How to Install Gutters

A step-by-step guide to installing DIY gutters with corrugated downspouts and decorative cast-aluminum brackets.