How to make a DIY hinged downspout extension

I get it, your downspout extension is getting in the way and you need a way to fix it immediately. However the standard approach to buying a hinge and securing it is too much for you. Well this is where you can make your very own hinged downspout extension for half the cost! Read on to find out how.

What will you need to make a DIY hinged downspout extension?

Please understand that this DIY downspout hinge method works the best if your pipe is made from aluminium. Sorry if you have a plastic pipe! You can still try your best to do it but the finish may be unstable.

Otherwise you will not need much at all to transform your gutter.  Simply get your hands on:

  • An electric screwdriver
  • A strong pair of scissors or shears
  • Two pairs of nuts and bolts (choose carefully)

How to choose the ideal nuts and bolts for your downspout hinge

When you’re purchasing your nuts and bolts, as you’ll see in the following step by step, you don’t want the nut to loosen overtime, fall off and create even more work for yourself.

I don’t want you to go through this so please buy the correct ones that stay in place.

All this will make a lot more sense when you follow the guide below but make sure you get a lock nut and bolt with the bolt having a length of half an inch to an inch.

Locking nuts are designed to resist outward pressure and vibrations.

DIY hinged downspout extension – step by step

Step 1:

First remove your downspout extension from the main gutter and find a point about 4 inches from the end of it. Draw through this 4 inch measurement with a horizontal line that is parallel to the end of the gutter.

Drawing the lines to make a DIY hinged downspout extension

You should mark this line on one side of the gutter that has a bigger width.

Step 2:

This line you conveniently drew in the last step will be the top of the “T” shape you will mark on the downspout extension.

So find the middle of the pipe and draw another line from the original line, down to the end of the pipe

Drawing cut lines to make  DIY hinged downspout extension

To find where the middle is, measure the width of the pipe and divide it by two. These lines should be as accurate as possible as they will form cut lines. You should now have a perfect “T” cut line

Step 3:

It’s time to get out your cutting tools. Cut along the edge of the cut lines starting with the base of the “T”.

Cutting  out gutter to make  DIY hinged downspout extension

Cut the lines slowly and carefully – not only to be accurate but because cutting yourself on some nasty aluminium edges doesn’t sound fun.

Step 4:

Bend the “flaps” that you have cut out down to the inside of the gutter. This should be relatively easy if the material of your downspout is quite thin.

Make sure you follow this step and don’t just cut off the flaps. The reason why you bend them down is to create extra stability by making the material thicker.

This extra material will provide additional strength where you’ll screw your nuts and bolts.

Turning down the flaps of the the gutter to make a DIY hinged

If your gutter isn’t made from aluminium and the material isn’t able to be bent. Then cut off the flaps completely. For example, a plastic gutter wouldn’t be able to be bent.

Step 5:

So here comes the screwing of your downspout extension. Have a play around first with where exactly you need to put your holes to have an effective “hinge” on your gutter.

Then double check the width of the nuts and bolts you have. This will be the size of drill you’ll need to put in to your electric screwdriver to make the holes.

Next, make the holes in your gutter. First, make the holes in the gutter that is attached to the wall. Make the holes on either side and nearer to the bottom to the top.

Next, screw holes in the extension of the gutter. These can be done at either side again about halfway through the height of the pipe like in the diagram.

Making holes to make a DIY downspout  hinged extension

Take your time with this – having to buy more pipe or not draining water effectively due to poor hole placement will be very annoying!

Step 6:

Check that everything aligns well and put in the nuts and bolts.

Adding downspout extension to main gutter

And there you have it! Enjoy your new DIY downspout hinge using screws.

Have a play around with putting the pipe up and down and spraying water on your roof to check everything drains correctly

Mistakes to avoid when making a hinged downspout extension yourself

Wouldn’t you agree finding out the easiest ways to mess up before you get started with your DIY project is a great way to avoid mistakes?

Here are some of the common things you could mess up on so you can avoid them. Especially when not installing your downspout extension properly could result in a flooding problem or even buying more expensive materials.

Arguably, simply buying a downspout hinge to set up a “hinged” downspout extension avoids a lot of these problems but for those that love the DIY aspect of outdoor creativity, indulge yourself in this guide.

Cover your back before you get started.

  • Buying screws instead of bolts (screw are too sharp for a hinge)
  • Cutting yourself on sharp aluminium edges – (ouch!)
  • Using a material that isn’t very strong (installment will break overtime)
  • Not aligning the pipe well after installing (results in water leaking)
  • Cutting the pipe inaccurately (results in water leaking)
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