Gutter Installation

Worry-free Gutter Installation

Quite often during a gutter guard installation, we can reuse your existing gutters as they exist, or at times they just need to be realigned.

But there are times when new gutters are needed or recommended. Rest assured that we are experts at assessing your specific situation and providing the proper advice on the type of gutters and leaders that are needed.

This includes:

• Choosing the proper material for your particular home’s architectural style
• Selecting the proper size of your gutters and leaders based on the size of your roof
• Assistance with selecting the best colors that compliment your home
• Offering advice on gutter accessories that may offer benefits to your gutter system

Do I Need Gutter Guards and What Do They Cost?

A constant accumulation of water erodes foundations, rots fascia, floods basements and induces mold in attics. Rainwater from your rooftop needs to be directed away from your foundation. When your gutter begins to fail, it needs to be replaced or repaired. Here are some indicators that it may be time to replace your gutters:

• Gutters splitting away from your house
• Loose or broken fasteners
• Extensive peeling and cracking of siding and other exterior material
• Mildew, algae, or excessive moisture
• Visible rust or discoloration of gutters or downspouts

So, how much does it cost to install new gutters? The average professional installation is quoted at $3,000 for a home of 2,400 square feet. However, your costs will vary, depending on several factors such as:

• Material – vinyl, aluminum, copper, or galvalume
• The thickness (or wall gauge thickness) of the gutter material
• The size of gutters – sizes range from 4” to 8”
• Lineal footage and whether home is multiple or single story
• Any architectural complexities such as special arches, gables or roof valleys
• Removal or disposal of existing gutter
• The number of leaders (downspouts) that are needed
• Type of gutter fasteners that are used
• Any remedial work needed for fascia, soffit, or roofs
• Downspout extension, whether above or below-ground tubing, and distance from home
• Installer expertise
• Any warranty extended
• Overhead such as worker compensation or other insurance carried by your installer

Material

With its characteristics of being lightweight and durable, and with many colors available, aluminum gutters comprise 90% of installation market.

Sectional gutters are available in 8-foot or 10-foot prefabricated sizes through the big box stores but are not recommended because they generate too many seams which are more susceptible to leaks and do not look nice on your home. 

All professional installers use roll-formed gutters that use a special machine mounted inside a box truck. They support large rolls of aluminum that move through the machine and form the gutters to the exact lengths needed. The truck comes to your home and the gutters are fabricated at the time of installation.

Leaders (downspouts) are used to carry the water from your gutters down the side of your home and away from the structure. The number needed and locations are determined by many factors and we make these determinations during our initial assessment.

Construction & Color

Gutters come in number of different sizes and styles but the most common is 5” K Style. This makes up 70% of the aluminum gutter market. Smaller gutters are never recommended except in few instances but larger gutters may be recommended based on the “run of your roof” (the distance from your gutter to the peak) because more roof delivers more water into your gutter system.

It is important to purchase a heavy gauge aluminum, because too often, inferior gutters look exactly the same as a heavy gauge gutters, but this thinner material does not hold up over time and can easily dent or sag. 

Leaders also come in different sizes and styles but the most common amongst them are 2” X 3” rectangles. 

The gutters and leaders are secured to the house with special brackets, and like all materials, some are better than others. 

The gutters require special corners, end caps, leader spouts, etc that are secured to the gutter with crimpers and screws. They must then be sealed to prevent leaking at these locations. There are advanced gutter sealants that we use that have proven to stay in place and prevent leaks for the life of the gutters. They are expensive but worth the cost. Unfortunately, many installers opt for a less expensive option, but be assured that we use the best sealants on the market.

White is the most common gutter color followed by brown. Other colors command a premium price and are typically only used when white or brown don’t compliment your homes color scheme.

Longevity & Maintenance

Expect a good aluminum gutter to last from 20 to 50 years – depending on a variety of factors such as the quality of the installation and material used as well as the environmental conditions, and the consistency of maintenance.

The maintenance routine should incorporate visual inspection of gutters two to four times per year. The typical home in the Northeast without gutter guards will likely have one to two cleanings per year to remove leaves, dirt or any other accumulated debris. But I should mention that this frequency is inadequate and many more cleanings are required in the absence of a good cover. With gutter guards, expect the frequency to diminish as well as the scope of needed debris clearance. 

Installation

A professional installer will have adequate insurance and offer a warranty on their work. They will be able to advise you on challenging water situations, including drainage matters or even insulation deficiencies. Ask as many questions as possible to feel confident in your selection. Consider reviews, longevity, references, and a gallery of previously completed jobs when evaluating contractors.

In most instances, you will not need a permit for a gutter installation in Westchester County or Putnam County. 

Our simplest gutter installations take a few hours. More complex ones can take two days to complete. Larger or architecturally complex homes will tend to be on the longer side of that timeframe range. It is worth noting – the most expensive jobs are from contractors who do not show up or fail to complete the job causing aggravation and upset to your schedule. Poorly trained workers might deliver a shoddy installation that needs to be reworked. Unlicensed or underinsured workers expose you to unnecessary liability.

Other Items to Consider

• Gutter Guards
• Leaf Catchers
• Specialty Flashing
• Rollout downspout extenders
• Rain barrel for gardening or other water capture purposes
• Heat tapes