Tell me about rain gutters

[Pinusbanksiana]

One of my to do lists this summer is to install rain gutters. I know nothing but will do it myself as I do nearly everything myself. I wonder about durability during the winter.

[Pat K]

When I did it a few years ago everyone told me seamless was the only way to go. At that time the only local company I could find that would supply seamless gutters for a DIYer was Authorized Seamless Gutter. They came out and went over options with me then measured everything. A few days later they delivered all the pre-cut sections and hardware. Things fit together with no cutting or other altering and they've worked fine and had no leaks for 3 or 4 years.

[delcecchi]

I would at least get a bid for having someone do the work. The seamless ones are good. I also got the bigger downspouts and have found that they don't clog nearly as easily. They also put screen over the gutters that helps fend off the twigs and maple seeds.

[echotrail]

12 years ago I had LeafGuard gutters installed. They are pricy, but my home is surrounded by pines and maples. I haven't cleaned a gutter since and no complaints. I tried the screens on my previous gutters, but needle and leaf stems would get caught in them anyhow.

[delcecchi]

My experience is that anything that gets through the screen washes out of the gutter when it rains. I have 4 BIG norway maples near my house and have no problem. The problem before the screens was all the twigs that landed in the gutters and caused jam ups.

Just my experience.

[DANR]

I had someone do the gutters up north. I did the garage myself - big mistake. There is no comparison between the screens they put on and the "save big money" ones I put on. I installed aluminum gutters myself on our house, and got by really cheap. Every seam now drips and I wish I had gone the seamless route there too. By the way, I put the brushes in those gutters, and in my opinion, they are way better than the screens.

[BoxMN]

Don't do the plastic cheapies! I have that on my garage and it is horrible. Haven't gotten around to replacing, but will.

Next time I "do" it, it will be seamless, and with leaf guard (the actual real "guard" not screen) and likely will have someone else do it. We put screens on my Moms and it works, to a point, but if I was staying in the house I'd spend the $$.

I like the idea of the bigger size too. For my old 1 and half story, I put heat cable in as the gutter and downspout and in the valley, just in case ice dams hit - just plug it in and viola, and escape for any of that dratted water. Good luck.

[Pinusbanksiana]

Thanks everyone, sounds like seamless is preferred. They must have to make them on site, I don't know how to transport 30 foot of gutter. Snow load doesn't bother them? Are they strong enough to lean a ladder on?

[echotrail]

As I recall the Leaf Guards I bought were assembled on site from a roll of material cut to length and rolled into shape through a press. This would be the same process for any brand of seamless gutter.

The Leaf Guards are easily strong enough to support a ladder and the solid hood that's over the top prevents ice build up inside.

I attached 12" long narrow strips of carpet to the ladder rails to prevent scratching. The only downside is on my southern exposure hornets like to build nests inside the gutter so I have to spray and retreat fast a couple of times a year.

[Pinusbanksiana]

Any rough idea of cost per foot?

[titelines]

12 years ago I had LeafGuard gutters installed. They are pricy, but my home is surrounded by pines and maples. I haven't cleaned a gutter since and no complaints. I tried the screens on my previous gutters, but needle and leaf stems would get caught in them anyhow.

Big +1. Had these installed on our house a few years back and it may be the best $$ I've spent...ok, well at least it was $$ very well spent. Get 'em installed and cross that task off your list forever. Never had a problem with them.

Love 'em so much I called to see if they would make a trip up to the cabin...they wouldn't, but they gave me the number of a company that does them up there so we didn't hesitate to call and get them on the cabin too.

[crothmeier]

Look up Leaf-X brand gutter covers, do it yourself available, and half the price of gutter helmet.

[Down Deep]

A few years ago I did a complete remodel of my house which included exterior work. I was going to to the gutters myself. As with everything I do I shopped the cost and quality of DIY vs professional install. By the time I had all the information I need and the difference in the quality of product I decided to go with the professional install of seamless. The cost differential was about 35%, but I didn't have to do anything which seemed like a fair deal for me. Old gutters were already off the house. They company arrived about 9 AM and were cleaned up and gone by 4 pm. I could tell that the two guys who did the job have made and hung thousands of feet of gutter. All corners, end caps and downspouts fit together and hugged the house like a glove.

[frazwood]

A few years ago I did a complete remodel of my house which included exterior work. I was going to to the gutters myself. As with everything I do I shopped the cost and quality of DIY vs professional install. By the time I had all the information I need and the difference in the quality of product I decided to go with the professional install of seamless. The cost differential was about 35%, but I didn't have to do anything which seemed like a fair deal for me. Old gutters were already off the house. They company arrived about 9 AM and were cleaned up and gone by 4 pm. I could tell that the two guys who did the job have made and hung thousands of feet of gutter. All corners, end caps and downspouts fit together and hugged the house like a glove.

I agree with this 100%. For any project, you should weigh the extra cost of hiring a contractor versus the potential difference in quality versus what your time is worth to you.

With gutters, I think the cost difference is not that big but the quality difference can be very large.

I have installed a couple of DIY gutter systems and they're OK but not nearly as good as what a professional would have done.