Gutter Expansion Joint Spacing

Copper aluminum zinc and galvanized steel.

Gutter expansion joint spacing.

Most new box gutters these days are made of either copper or stainless steel although many old box gutters were made of terne coated steel. Expansion joints may also be required at changes in gutter width or depth at corners and at end. Expansion joints are a component in seamless rain gutter systems designed to protect the gutters from the effects of thermal expansion. By reducing the downspout spacing to perhaps 35lf you could use a 6 gutter with 9 4 x6 downspouts in lieu of an 8 system.

There are a couple of options when it comes to expansion joints in gutters. In this example your maximum spacing of downspouts should be 40. Expansion joints in copper gutters must be provided to allow for the natural expansion and contraction of copper caused by thermal changes. The spacing of the expansion joints depends on the size of the gutter and thickness of the metal but a general rule is that an expansion joint should be included about every thirty feet.

Recommended hanger spacing is 24 on centers. Sidewalk that abuts curb or gutter shall have joints that match the curb or gutter joints. The space between joints in curbs and gutters space between contraction joints or between contraction and expansion joints shall not exceed ten feet. The space between sidewalk joints shall not exceed 125 of the sidewalk width for example.

8 commercial box gutter expansion joint in kynar 500 steel use an expansion joint every 40 50 lineal feet. In general long straight runs should have joints spaced a maximum of 48 feet apart. Thermal expansion is the tendency for a material to expand and contract when exposed to changes in temperature.