Metal building gutters can be a smart addition to a metal structure, like a carport or garage, to protect its foundation and control drainage around it. Gutters can also prevent pooling water. Without gutters to control drainage during storms, the foundation of your metal building stands at risk.
Installing metal gutters will cost from $900 to more than $5,000. We’ll explain all the benefits of adding metal gutters to a metal building. You’ll also learn the basic steps to install gutters on the roof of a metal structure, in case you plan to go install them yourself.
Top 5 Reasons to Add Gutters to Your Metal Building
No one likes to walk through a waterfall to get into their detached garage when it’s raining. Besides convenience, there are a few other reasons why gutters are important when it comes to making sure your metal building stands the test of time.
1. Protects You from Getting Wet
Gutters help stop water from flowing off the roof of a building and soaking you as you walk underneath. Whether you’re walking to your car or just heading to the garage to grab something quickly, you’d like to be able to do it without going for a swim. Gutters can make sure the flow of water has control as it flows from the roof of your metal building to the ground.
2. Reduces Costly Leaks
Whether you have a metal garage or an alternative structure, it won’t do you as much good if what you’re storing inside is always getting wet. Gutters help protect your valuables and the paneling of your metal building by routing drain water away from entry points.
3. Avoids Excessive Landscaping Damage
If you have any vegetation planted near your garage or carport, the force of water running off the roof can injure your plants or even uproot them. The same is true for any mulch beds or gravel, including walkways, that might be nearby—they can be washed away without controlled drainage via gutters.
4. Extends the Life of Your Foundation
Most metal buildings should be constructed with solid foundations to maximize their life span. If you don’t add gutters to a metal building, rain can pool at its base and damage its structural integrity. Water can seep underneath your building’s foundation and lead it to sink or crack.
Even if you have an anchored carport without a foundation, gutters can still protect what’s underneath by making sure water doesn’t pool on the gravel, concrete, or asphalt.
5. Prevents Unwanted and Costly Repairs
All of the above are great reasons to get gutters—but most importantly, roof leaks lead to money leaking from your wallet. It costs from around $900 to more than $5,000 to protect a metal building with gutters, which is quite an upfront cost. Long-term, gutters might help you to avoid other costly repairs.
How to Install Gutters on a Metal Building
So you’re ready to go—you’ve either decided to get new gutters for your metal building or you already have the materials and you want to get started. Here’s how to install gutters on the roof of a metal building.
- Measure your roof. You should measure the overhang, or eaves, of your roof where the gutters will hang. Be sure to leave a little extra space at the corners where rainwater can sometimes collect.
- Install gutter supports. These will attach with screws at each end of your gutter once the gutter goes up. You may also need to install supports in the middle to provide extra support for longer gutters (for example, on a 40×80 metal building). Depending on the thickness of your walls, you may need large metal screws for this step.
- Trim your gutters. Using snips, a saw, or power tools, trim your gutters to the pre-measured length. Make sure to remember your allowance for the gutter corners.
- Drill for gutter attachments. Depending on the gutters you purchase, they may already come pre-drilled for brackets. If not, you’ll need to drill for where you’ll attach the gutters to your roof with bolts or screws.
- Attach gutter brackets. Gutter brackets will help keep the gutter attached to the side of your building. Without these guiding brackets, wind may damage your gutters or shake them loose by water running through them.
- Put up your new gutters. You should now be ready for any rainstorm that comes your way. Be sure to tighten any bolts or screws to make sure you have protection against possible leaks or weak spots.
If you’re not confident that you can install gutters yourself, don’t worry—you won’t have to weather the rain. You can contact a gutter installation company to size up your metal structure and install a gutter for you.
Opt for Gutters to Protect Your Metal Building
A properly maintained gutter system can detour water away from your garage, carport, or shed, and make sure your metal structure stays protected from rain damage for years to come.
Alan’s Factory Outlet does not sell gutters to outfit metal buildings. Our vertical roof may work best when adding gutters, but we recommend you speak to a local gutter installation expert in your area to discuss details, pricing and timelines.
If you’re in the market for a new metal building and are planning ahead for gutters, head over to our 3D garage and carport builder to customize and envision your new structure.
