What questions should you ask a gutter installation company before you hire them? Not everyone is a gutter pro, let alone a “Gutter Guru,” and we get that…
Most homeowners sometimes don’t truly understand the value of their gutters regarding how much protection they truly offer and how much rain gutters help with during heavy rainstorms… like the ones that hit Northern Virginia year round!
All this to say, when it comes to replacing your existing gutters or even adding new gutters, there are some things you should always ask gutter companies beforehand:
- Hiring a gutter installation company
- Getting new gutters
Let’s take a look at those exact questions you should always ask along with the right answers that go with them!
10 Questions to Always Ask Gutter Install Companies!
Table of Contents
1. Are you a licensed Gutter Company?
Why should you ask a company if they’re licensed? The answer to that question is easy – it tells you about their credibility and background knowledge.
When any home contractor is licensed, it immediately separates the credible from the not-so-credible as far as hiring goes for you, the homeowner.
2. Does your company have insurance?
Perhaps even more important than whether a contractor is licensed is whether they have insurance. This is a must for any home remodel project – exterior or interior – contractors should always be insured.
Whether the gutter install team messes something up, breaks a window, or falls off a ladder, you want to ensure they’re insured to handle those issues…. so it doesn’t end up being your problem!
Always hire insured gutter companies! The same goes for hiring roofers, plumbers, HVAC contractors, painters, and so on! Always work with licensed and insured companies!
3. What is your product & labor warranty for your gutters?
Don’t blindly hire a company simply because they’re licensed and insured; that should be a given. While many consumers will look at the gutter prices, which is essential, don’t forget to ask about the product and labor warranty information, too!
For example, one gutter installation company may have a better price than, say, a competitor, but they may not offer any material warranty. Be sure to get the specifics about the gutter warranty always!
We offer a lifetime warranty for material and labor (restrictions apply).
4. How much do new gutters cost?
Not only do most people ask the question, “How much do new gutters cost?” but they also want to know the price upfront, as they should!
Whenever you’re looking to get new custom seamless gutters, be sure always to know how much they’re going to cost before having them installed. Have the price in writing.
Typically, new seamless gutters come in two sizes: 5-inch and 6-inch. The price per linear square foot for aluminum gutters varies depending on your location and other factors like material.
However, usually, gutters should range from $7-$12 a square foot if they’re aluminum! Vinyl gutters don’t work well and are usually $3-4 per foot, whereas copper and steel gutters exceed well over $20 per foot!
To help, we offer our FREE gutter pricing tool here!
DIY Gutter Calculator
Figure out how much to pay for new aluminum gutters & gutter guards for your home!
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Select a Size
5" gutters come with 2"x3" downspouts, 6" gutters come with 3"x4" downspouts and drain 400% faster than 5" gutters
Choose Your Color
Please select a color that best works for your home.
Wicker
Dark Green
Dark Grey
Eggshell
White
Ivory
Light Grey
Musket Brown
Red
Cream
Clay
Brown
Bronze
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Estimate Footage for 5" Gutters
Please provide the estimated total footage needed for gutters on your home.
Please slide to equal total footage needed for gutters.
Please slide to equal total footage needed for downspouts
Lifetime No Clog Warranty
Raindrop Gutter Guards are an absolutely fantastic way to save time and extend the life of your gutters, roof, and home. By adding Raindrop Gutter Protection System to your order, we guarantee a lifetime of free flowing gutters.
Please slide to equal total footage needed for gutter guards on your home.
Choose Your Color
Please select a color that best works for your home.
Wicker
Dark Green
Dark Grey
Eggshell
White
Ivory
Light Grey
Musket Brown
Red
Cream
Clay
Brown
Bronze
Black
Estimate Footage for 6" Gutters
Please provide the estimated total footage needed for gutters on your home.
Please slide to equal total footage needed for gutters.
Please slide to equal total footage needed for downspouts
Lifetime No Clog Warranty
Raindrop Gutter Guards are an absolutely fantastic way to save time and extend the life of your gutters, roof, and home. By adding Raindrop Gutter Protection System to your order, we guarantee a lifetime of free flowing gutters.
Please slide to equal total footage needed for gutter guards on your home.
Final cost
Here is your final cost, please fill out the form below to get started!
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5. How long does it take to install new gutters?
After the hiring process questions are done, perhaps the very next question is almost always – how long does it take to install gutters?
While we can’t speak for other gutter installation companies, here is what we can say when it comes to installing new gutters and the length of time it takes:
Less than one day.
Here at Gutter Gurus, we typically remove old gutters, measure, cut, and install new ones in a few hours while always ensuring quality workmanship.
While it starts with how we prepare, we also tell homeowners that the typical turnaround time for new seamless rain gutters from contract to install is a handful of business days on average.
Our accurate online pricing system makes the process hassle and haggle-free, in addition to being quick!
6. How long will new gutters last?
How long gutters last is a great question. Unlike the lifespan of your roof, the lifespan of your gutters really varies based on where you live and other factors like gutter maintenance. For example, someone in a dry climate like Idaho might not need as much gutter care compared to someone in a wooded area in Ohio.
While old gutter systems commonly use 5-inch gutters installed with old-school gutter spikes, new aluminum gutters are typically 6-inch with screw-in hidden hangers.
This increases the life of the gutters, and a key to long-lasting gutters is gutter cleaning! Without proper gutter cleaning, new gutters can become old gutters quickly.
If you don’t like cleaning gutters, HIGHLY consider installing gutter guards.
7. Should I be home when I get the gutters installed?
That is 100% up to you!
We often get asked a lot if a homeowner has to be home to have gutters installed, and we always tell them that it’s their choice. But for planning purposes, the answer is NO; you don’t have to if you have to go to work/travel.
Once we agree on an install date our gutter install teams arrive and work in a timely manner, followed by cleaning up after using a magnet in the yard!
8. How do I know if I need new gutters?
Typically, you will know if you need new gutters if you see any of the following:
- Rain-free falling off your roof rapidly during storms
- Gutters missing, bent, or falling down
- If you see a gap between your gutter and your house
- If you get the feeling the gutters are not working correctly (it doesn’t hurt to check)
That said, while some of the signs are obvious when replacing your gutters, that isn’t always the case. However, here at Gutter Guru and with our partner Top Dog Home Pro we always pride ourselves on transparent gutter quotes.
This means if the gutters have a few years left, we will let you know!
9. Should I get gutter guards?
Typically, gutter guards are a preference and depend on a few things, such as:
- Budget
- The type of guard
- Length of staying at the home
However, whenever we install new gutter guards, we recommend installing a self-cleaning gutter guard such as Raindrop Gutter Guards.
Not all gutter guards are created equally, however, when we install gutter guards we offer a lifetime gutter warranty with a no-clog warranty too!
This means you will never have to clean your gutters again! The guards we use typically pay for themselves in 3-5 years of paid cleaning! So our answer is always YES!
10. Are my gutters seamless?
Typically, all gutters are seamless.
The only gutters that are not seamless are vinyl sectional gutters, which are very cheap and poorly designed. If you have gutters, they’re most likely seamless!
Seamless gutters stand out because they don’t leak! Sectional gutters leak at the joint and typically break in just a few years.
Final Thoughts –
We hope we answered all your gutter questions!
Why does it matter who you hire when it comes to new gutters? That is a silly question. However, questions like gutter pricing, warranties, and length of life span for new gutters all differ.
Some of these questions might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s best to do your due diligence like you are! We encourage our readers/homeowners always to check out our Gutter Learning Center, where you can continue to learn more about gutters.
Until next time, I hope you have a great one!
~Leafie & Gutter Gurus of NOVA!