OK, What’s the straight dope on gutter replacement?
Share your opinions, stories, etc.
Here’s the deal. in a previous thread I agonized over my new windows. They’re now going to be installed within the next couple of weeks. Next on my home improvement list is replacing my crappy, dented, leaking gutters.
Here are the facts:
[ul][li]Some of the fascia will have to be replaced. [/li][li]I may take care of the rotted fascia myself [/li][li]The soffit looks OK, and the soffit grills don’t appear to be rusted.[/li][li]I suppose it stands to reason that I will also most likely removing the old gutters, and painting the only non-brick part of my home.[/li][li]I’m not interested in clog free gutters. My experience with them hasn’t been great, compared to the amount of $$ they cost.[/li][/ul]
Oh, and while we’re at it, what’s your opinion on the different types of gutter hangers… I’d like to have a discussion on spike & ferrule hangers versus fascia brackets.
I suspect everybody reading the window thread will also be reading the gutter thread. The house I’m buying does not have gutters, and the inspector told me that a good many of the little things we’re having to fix on it would have been nonissues had anybody in the past 77 years put gutters on.
As the painter and I will be fixing the rotted fascia the week after next, maybe I’ll be able to give you a heads up on that one.
#1 is make sure you have aluminum facia behind the gutter. If not, birds and squirrels will sit in/on the gutters and burrow through the wood into your attic. If the bottom of the facia is exposed you also risk carpenter bees. After that I suggest leaf guards (not the mesh wire type).
The new style gutter attachments are great. They’re completely hidden and easy to install. They won’t back out like the old spike type. If you do it yourself then spend the time to seal them right or you’ll be up there again.
After doing my 2nd story roof I got anal and epoxied my 1st story gutters (much smaller run). They went up as a single unit.
Personally, if I had the money, I’d have continues-form gutters installed. They come to your house with a machine that forms them in one piece. Absolutely no leaks.
The fascia is pretty good shape except in a couple of places. There is one section of the soffit that needs to be replaced. It’s all wood right now, and I don’t think it’d be a good idea to mix wood with aluminum. Furthermore I don’t plan on living in the house long enought to justify replacing all of the fascia and soffits when they just don’t need it. At this point 95% of the replacement would be for aesthetic reasons. I’ve never had any problem with squirrels yet (lived in the house six years).
I’m surprised this thread didn’t get more replies.
Eh, don’t replace all the fascia. Just take out the rot and 6" or so beyond that and throw some 1x material behind it. We only use Norandex Reynolds Striated finish PVC trim coil for our fascia wraps. I like the striated finish as I think it looks nicer and hides small blemishes and stuff on the surface of the coil. The PVC coating means it won’t fade in the sun and is resistant to scratching.
Oh, by we I mean Home Depot, I’m a Project Manager for Installed Windows and Siding.
Putting up the trim coil is easy IF you have a break to form the coil into the shape you want, otherwise it’s nearly impossible. You’d need to rent one if you don’t have a friend with one.
Enright3 I don’t mean to hijack. but what didn’t you like about the clog free gutters?
I have TONS of trees and need new gutters, but I really need something to help keep them free of leaves. Is there one product in particular you had bad luck with? Are ANY of them worth it?
To be fair my knowledge of the gutter guard type gutters is all anecdotal. Thew few friends that have given me a negative have all said about the same thing. They said that they work pretty good keeping leaves out, but pine needles still get in there. They said that if something DOES get in the gutter, it’s much more difficult to clean out. They’re WAY more expensive that traditional gutters, and finally, While they’re pretty good at keeping leaves out, as your roof gets older and the little beads of your asphault shingles flow off over time, they’re end up in your gutters, and don’t necessarily wash out.
Depending on home style / amount of roof area draining into the gutter, sometimes 5" standard K-style gutters don’t have the capacity to drain into the leader and away from the house. If you’ve ever noticed unclogged gutters overflowing during heavy rainstorms, you may wish to consider 6" gutters - with 20% more capacity.
I’m surprised no one has mentioned the new rain diffusers, known as Rain Handlers. Though I only know one person who’s installed them - they voiced no complaints to me when asked (but due to stubborness, wouldn’t admit so even if that weren’t true).
The house I’m buying does not have gutters, and the inspector told me that a good many of the little things we’re having to fix on it would have been nonissues had anybody in the past 77 years put gutters on.