How Do I Remove Gutter Nails

Q: How do I remove gutter nails?

A: Old fashioned gutter nails are called “spikes and ferrules,” with the spikes being giant nails that pass through an aluminum sleeve (the ferrule) which holds a gutter to the fascia board of the house. To remove them you need to pull the nail. The problem is that the gutter is made of thin sheet metal which will crush and deform if you pry against it with a hammer or pry bar. To solve this problem, you need to fashion a “pry block” that will provide a solid object against which to leverage your prying tool. You can make a pry block from scrap 2×4 or 2×6. Measure the gutter, and cut the block to fit snugly between the fascia and the outer lip of the gutter, filling the void with solid wood. Then, simply place the block in the gutter and use your hammer or pry bar against it to pull out the nail and remove the ferrule.