What gutter hangers work with a metal roof?
Short answer. On a metal roof, use hangers that fasten to the fascia, such as hidden hangers screwed into the fascia and rafter tails, rather than strap hangers that run under or screw through the roof panels. Position the gutter so water leaving the panel edge lands well inside it, because runoff comes off smooth metal fast and can overshoot a gutter set too far back or too small.
Why fascia-mounted hangers
Strap hangers attach on top of the roof deck and need to be fastened under or through the roofing. On a metal roof that means extra holes in the panels or trim, which become leak points, and straps can interfere with panels that expand and contract in Georgia heat. Hidden hangers clip inside the gutter and screw into the fascia, so the roof stays untouched.
Placement and spacing
- Space hangers closely, commonly about every 2 feet, and drive screws into rafter tails where you can.
- Set the gutter so the eave trim and panel edge extend over the gutter opening, not short of it.
- Consider 6-inch gutters on steep metal roofs. Water accelerates on smooth panels and arrives at the gutter faster than it does off shingles.
- Splash guards at valley corners help where runoff tends to shoot past the lip.
Metal compatibility
- Aluminum gutters are the usual pairing with steel panels that have aluminum-zinc or painted coatings.
- Avoid copper gutters or copper flashing with coated steel roofs, and avoid letting runoff from copper flow onto them, because the combination corrodes the steel's coating.
- Use stainless or coated fasteners suited to the metals involved.
Guards on metal roofs
Debris slides off metal readily, so guards stay cleaner, but the guard must not sit above the panel edge or it will catch runoff. See metal roofing in Georgia, gutter sizing, seamless gutters and guards and drip edge explained.