Bullnose Rain Gutter Covers – Part 2

This project is continued from Part 1.

Before installing the new bullnose metal gutter covers, I cleaned most of the tree debris from the flip-up screen gutter covers that will be replaced.

Metal Screen Flip-Up Gutter Covers

The flip-up gutter screens do a good job of keeping the gutters clean. The problem with the screens is tree debris is caught where the screen meets the roof and forms a dam.

Bullnose Gutter Cover Installation

This is a ~13 foot section of gutter. The gutter drains well with no standing water, a gutter “tune up” to adjust the pitch for drainage wasn’t necessary.

Gutter Ready for New Gutter Covers

The Coverall Gutter Covers will slide underneath the second row of shingles. The adhesive bond under the shingle tab is carefully released with a 5-in-1 painters tool. It’s best to do this work on a warm day when the shingles are flexible to avoid breaking or cracking.

Breaking the Asphalt Adhesive Sealer on the Shingle Tabs

The gutter covers are slipped under the 2nd row of shingles and fasten to the gutter with one screw per bracket.

First Section of Gutter Cover Installed

Gutter covers are over lapped by about 1 inch to allow for thermal expansion and the bracket is fastened to the gutter lip with a hex-head sheet metal screw.

Fastening the 2nd Section of Gutter Cover

The screw and bracket system makes a secure installation.

Detail of the Gutter Bracket Attachment

The bullnose of the Coverall Gutter Covers installs even with the inside edge of the gutter. This is a limitation compared to other “nose forward” designs such that the bracket can be fastened with screws to the gutter. I can see where a “nose forward” design that is even with the outside edge of the gutter would be better at keeping all debris out of the gutter.

Three Sections of Coverall Gutter Covers

The gutter is easy to cut to length with tin snips to fit the end of the gutter. Be sure to cut the end about 4 inches long for folding down to make an end-cap.

Cutting a Short Section of Gutter Cover with Tin Snips

If the gutter cover doesn’t lie flush against the shingles, or if your roof deck is “wavy”, an aluminum roofing nail should be used to set the gutter cover flush against the roof. Be sure to place a dab of roofing sealant beneath the gutter cover (i.e. on top of the shingle where the nail will penetrate) and also on the nail head to prevent any chance of leaks.

Aluminum Nail for Tight Fit Against the Roof

I made an end-cap by trimming a flap and folding it down inside the gutter to keep out birds and squirrels.

Field-Expedient Gutter Cover End-Cap

I had forgotten the more professional method for making an end cap that I saw at the Woodstock Gutter Supply product exhibit. The full profile end cap is easy to cut out with tin snips and fasten with two sheet metal screws. If I have critter problems with my folded end-cap, it’s easy enough to retrofit the full profile cap as shown here:

Coverall Gutter Cover by Woodstock Gutter Supply, LLC.

The low-profile metal gutter covers look nice (i.e. aren’t noticeable) and have performed well now for the month that I’ve had them on the house. Leaves and twigs just roll off the roof now on both dry and rainy days. I’m eager to see how well these do in the fall and next spring.

Metal Gutter Covers – Finished Job

This project is continued in Part 3 where the gutters on the other side of house needed extensive tune-up work before installing gutter covers.

Hope this helps,

Bob Jackson

Be Sociable, Share!

• 

Copyright © 2013 HandymanHowTo.com   Reproduction strictly prohibited.