What to Expect During Your Gutter Installation

Overview of Gutters

Most people don’t think about their gutters until there’s a problem, but they’re important for protecting your home. Gutters keep rainwater away from your landscaping, prevent your siding from getting stained, and help stop water and snow from damaging your foundation.

If your gutters are made from strong materials, they can last for many years. Small problems in just a few areas don’t mean you need to replace everything — you can fix those spots on their own.

But if you see rust, broken joints, sagging, or stains on your home’s exterior, it might be time to replace your gutters.

Types of Gutters

Gutters are usually made from aluminum, vinyl, zinc, steel, or copper. The style you choose depends on how you want your home to look and how much rain you get in your area. If you live somewhere very dry, you might not need gutters at all. For most people, though, these are the three most common gutter styles:

1. K-style: These have been a popular choice for homeowners for many years because they have a decorative front. They can be attached directly to the fascia board.
2. Half-round gutters: These are rounded pipes with the top half removed. You’ll often see them on older homes, and their curved shape means they need brackets to stay in place.
3. Custom-built seamless gutters: These gutters are made from a single piece of material, shaped to fit your home exactly. Since they’re made just for you, they tend to cost the most.

Before the Installation

The good news is that installing or replacing gutters is regular home maintenance, so you usually don’t need a permit. Still, check if your local rules require a specific type of gutter. Your contractor can help you with this.

Once you’ve compared quotes and chosen a contractor you trust, they’ll visit your home to check what materials and how many gutters are needed. They’ll look at things like:

• Shape of your home: Is your house a simple rectangle, or does it have lots of corners and bends? This affects what materials are used and how much is needed.
• Access: The layout of your home and yard will affect how the contractor can reach the gutters.
• Materials: The type of gutters you get depends on things like how much rain you get and how close you are to the ocean. You can also tell your contractor if you want a certain color to match your home.
• Soffits: This is where the roof meets the siding. Soffits help rain and snow drain away from your home, protect the siding, and help control your home’s temperature.
• Fascia: This board runs under the edge of the roof, and the gutters sit on top of it. Fascia brackets are added to support the gutters.

If your gutters have caused paint to chip, repaint those areas before installing new gutters. This helps protect your home from more damage.

During the Installation

If you have an emergency, you might not get to choose when to replace or install gutters. Otherwise, summer is a good time, especially before fall and winter. In tropical areas, pick a dry season to get ready for the rain.

When your contractor installs or replaces gutters, they’ll check the slope of your roof. This helps them place the gutters at the right angle toward the downspout. If this isn’t done right, water can collect in the gutters, which defeats their purpose.

With an experienced contractor, gutter installation can often be finished in a day, depending on how big and complex your home is. Homes with lots of angles may take longer, but overall, this is a quick project compared to many other home improvements.

Ready to start your gutter installation or replacement? We’re here to help. Find trusted local gutter contractors near you.