GUTTER INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT

WHEN IS IT TIME TO REPLACE YOUR GUTTERS?

Leaky, old, or rusted gutters can easily diminish your home’s curb appeal, not to mention cause property damages overtime.  Once aluminum gutters reach 25-30 years of age the paint starts fading and the gutters start to become weaker.  Damages such as gutter leaks, gutter slope issues, and loose gutters re-occur at faster rates as the gutters get older. Eventually the gutters get to the point that they need repairs every other year just to keep going. That’s when it is time to consider gutter replacement. Here are common signs that the gutter system needs to be replaced.

• GUTTERS SYSTEM REACHES 25+ YEARS OF AGE: Aluminum gutters start to go downhill after 25-30 years of age. Therefore age should be a key factor when considering gutter repairs or replacement.

• RE-OCCURRING GUTTER REPAIRS: Persistent gutter issues that keep repeating such as leaks, gutters coming loose, or pitch issues may not be resolved until replaced.

• RUST: Gutter rust is irreversible and will only get worse. Therefore replacement is always necessary before it spreads.

• COROSSION:  Dark stains or discolorations at gutter seams are the beginning stages of corrosion.  Typically caused by persistent leaks, corrosion also requires replacement because gutter sealants are not able to bond with the corroded metal.

• DAMAGED GUTTERS:  Some damages are beyond repair and require gutter replacement.  Such as when a gutter is dented, a gutter starts to unfold at the lip, or twists from hanging off of a home.

• PAINT FADE/DISCOLORATION:  Due to constant exposure to the sun and the changing seasons, gutters naturally fade over time. Eventually the glossy enamel wears away and the color starts to change or even peel away in extreme cases. This is a sign that the gutters are old enough to consider replacement.

• SELLING THE HOME:  New gutters are a great investment when selling the home because they increase the property value. Not to mention improve the overall look of the home. New gutters and a pressure wash can do a house wonders!

• RE-MODELING THE HOME:  Going with a different gutter color that compliments the new look of your home is a great idea when re-modeling the exterior.

SHOULD GUTTER SPIKED SYSTEMS BE REPLACED?

Gutter spikes (otherwise known as gutter screws or gutter nails) are the old method of mounting gutters to the home. They were basically a large nail that was driven through the gutter and into the board behind the gutter. Fortunately this method of gutter installation has been phased out by much stronger screw in style gutter hangers.

If gutters have gutter spikes sticking out of them, then the chances are that the gutters are at least 20+ years old. Therefore you may want to consider replacement when costly repairs start to occur.

The modern approach to mounting gutters securely are hidden hangers. This style of gutter hanger screws into the fascia boards using heavy duty screws. Therefore the gutters are secured safely and will not come loose for very long periods of time.

IS IT BENIFICIAL TO UPSIZE THE GUTTER SYSTEM?

The standard (and most common) size of gutters found on homes are 5″ gutters. Which are usually matched with 2×3″ downspouts.  However if you have trees near your home or your home is bigger than a townhouse, then you should consider upsizing to 6″ gutters with 3×4″ downspouts.

Larger sized gutters and downspouts have many benefits over standard sized gutters, such as:

• LESS LIKELY TO CLOG – Larger gutters and downspouts means the debris has more room to flush through the system without getting snagged.  Smaller debris that typically would get caught in a smaller downspout are able to easily flush through larger sizes.   Therefore by increasing the size of your gutter system you decrease the chances of clogs. 

• PREVENTS OVERFLOW DURING HEAVY RAIN – During heavy downpours and storm situations the water can sometimes shoot right over the gutter, especially in corners or under roofing seams. By enlarging the gutter the front lip will stick out further, which makes it possible to catch the overflow. 

• HANDLES WATER MORE EFFICIENTLY – By volume, 6″ gutters are able to handle almost double the amount of water capacity as 5″ gutters.  

The good news about upsizing your gutter system with My Gutter Doctor is that we charge the same price for 5″ or 6″ gutters. That’s because we want all of our gutter installations to have the best results. And to achieve the best results we believe 6″ gutters should be used in every situation.  Unless you have to match your existing 5″ gutters or have H.O.A. codes to follow, we recommend 6″ gutter 99% of the time.

K-Style Gutter

Half-Round Gutter