Gutters & Roofing

Think about the last time it rained really hard.  Rain pounds your roof and torrents spill over the eaves. You can't reach the front door without passing beneath a waterfall. And the basement? Better fire up the sump pump. Before the next storm arrives, it may be a good idea to consider how your house will handle it,

Gutters handle a critical task: routing the runoff from a very large surface-your roof-to proper drainage away from the house. By doing this, they keep your house high and dry, protecting siding, windows, doors, and foundation from water damage.  Though most gutters are installed on existing roofs, adding them during reroofing simplifies installation and allows them to be fully integrated into the roof system. If you're thinking about installing a new roof, your timing couldn't be better.

If you look under "Gutters" in the telephone directory, you'll see numerous ads touting "seamless," "soldered," "continuous," "copper," "sheet metal," and other varieties. Which ones are right for your house? The following should help you sort through the possibilities.

Rain gutter sizes & profiles. Gutters are formed in several profiles and sizes. The standard profiles are a simple "U" shape and a "K" style, which has an ogee-shaped front, vaguely reminiscent of the letter "K."

Channels are 4, 5, or 6 inches in diameter; 5-inch K-style gutters are a popular type. Matching downspouts are 2-by-3-inch or 3-by-4-inch rectangular profiles or 3- or 4-inch round (often corrugated) pipes.

The larger systems are generally worth the difference in price because they're less likely to clog. If trees overhang your house, 3-by-4-inch downspouts are a good idea.

Gutter mounting systems. Gutters are attached along a house's eaves by any of several types of straps, brackets, and hangers, as shown in the illustrations above.

Rain gutter buying tips. Anyone who can afford about $20,000 for a seamless gutter machine can start a gutter business, so be sure to check references and get more than one bid. If you're considering seamless gutters and one bid is considerably lower than another, check the gauge and other details.

You should also ask about the following when comparing bids:

• Gauge of material
• Finish of material
• Colors available
• Size of trough
• Mounting system
• Is there a leaf guard type system available (or included)
• Warranty
• Does the company carry insurance.

Check with our listed contractors for a provider near you.