Gutter problems, causes and costs

Most gutter trouble is a capacity or attachment problem, not a dirty gutter. Find what you’re seeing below. Many of these are a Saturday job, and we say which ones.

877-360-4657 What gutters cost

Quick answerGutters fail in four ways: they can’t carry the water (overflow), they come loose (sagging or pulling away), they hold water (pitch or debris), or they put the water in the wrong place (downspouts at the foundation). The last one does the most damage to the house and is usually the cheapest to fix.

A gutter system’s only job is to move roof water to a safe spot away from the walls and foundation. When it fails, the gutter itself is rarely the expensive part. The fascia, siding, basement and slab it was supposed to protect are.

1Start with what you can see

Diagnose firstWater spilling over the front edge in heavy rainUsually too small a gutter or too few downspouts for the roof area, not a clog. Often DIYDownspout discharging at the foundationThe most common cause of wet basements and settling slabs, and one of the easiest fixes. Check the fasciaGutter pulling away from the fasciaHangers back out of aging wood. Re-hanging is simple; rotted fascia has to be replaced first. Diagnose firstStanding water in the gutter after rainA pitch problem or a partial blockage. Standing water adds weight and rusts steel gutters. Before you buyGutter guards sold as maintenance-freeNo guard is maintenance-free, and some reduce capacity in a downpour. Often claimableIce damage from a winter stormIce loads bend hangers and tear sections loose. Check the roof edge too. SafetyCleaning from a ladder aloneLadder falls are a leading cause of home injuries. When to do it and when not to. Diagnose firstStaining on the siding below the gutterWater is getting behind or over the gutter. Usually a missing drip edge or overflow.

Dirty gutters along a roof edge against a blue sky — Debris is worth clearing, but a clean gutter that still overflows points to capacity or pitch. Photo by Aleksi Partanen on Unsplash.

2How gutters fail

Failure	Usual cause	First thing to try
Overflow in heavy rain	Undersized gutter, too few downspouts, or flat pitch	Add a downspout or upsize the outlet before replacing the run
Sagging or pulling away	Loose hangers, too few hangers, or rotted fascia	Probe the fascia; if it’s sound, re-hang with hidden hangers into solid wood
Standing water	Pitch reversed or flattened, or a partial clog at the outlet	Flush the downspout and re-pitch the run toward the outlet
Leaking seams and corners	Failed sealant on sectional gutters	Clean, dry and reseal; consider seamless if many joints leak
Water at the foundation	Downspouts discharging at the wall	Extend the discharge well away from the house and check the grade

The eave of a house showing the gutter run and roof edge against an overcast sky — Photo by Miles Smith on Unsplash.

Gutters overflowing or coming loose?Talk to a local gutter contractor who will check the fascia and the downspouts, not just the trough.

877-360-4657

3What gutter work costs

The price moves with the length of the run, the material (aluminum, steel or copper), seamless versus sectional, the number of downspouts and corners, the height of the eave, and whether rotted fascia has to come off first. Guards are priced separately.

Gutters cost: what to expect and what to skip

4Gutter FAQ

Why do my gutters overflow even when they are clean?

They are usually too small for the roof area feeding them, pitched too flat, or there are too few downspouts. Adding a downspout or a larger outlet often fixes it without replacing the gutter.

Where should a downspout discharge?

Well away from the foundation, onto ground that slopes away from the house. Extensions, splash blocks or a buried drain line all work if the water doesn’t find its way back.

Are gutter guards worth it?

They can cut down cleaning under heavy tree cover, but none are maintenance-free, and some reduce how much water the gutter takes in during a downpour.

Should I repair or replace my gutters?

Repair loose hangers, leaking seams and short damaged sections. Replace when the run is badly bent, rusted through, or too small for the roof.

Written by Jaylan Jones. I Like To Exterior Services earns a referral fee when a call connects to a contractor. See our business-model disclosure.

877-360-4657

Talk to a local pro

One free number for every trade below. Tap a button to call, or dial it from any phone.

Roof, siding, windows or chimneyLeaks, storm damage, replacement877-360-4657 Gutters and downspoutsOverflow, sagging, new gutters877-360-4657 Garage doors and openersSprings, cables, new doors877-360-4657 Concrete and foundationsCracks, settling, driveways877-360-4657 Storm sheltersIn-garage and in-ground877-360-4657

We are a publisher, not a contractor, and may earn a referral fee when a call connects. How this site makes money.