Pinterest has taught just about every single homeowner how to be the person that can “Do it Yourself,” only to find out that in most cases –
It’s not always that easy.
We have all set out at some point to tackle a DIY home project and about six hours in, found ourselves frustrated because the YouTube video made is seem really easy.
Recently, I did this with a dishwasher that took a total of three days to get done correctly. This isn’t to say that DIY is not an option, but in some cases – like gutters – DIY gutters are not a good idea.
As a homeowner, you realize the importance of having gutters that don’t look bothersome to view from the ground level, but as well as gutters that are functional.
Gutters are designed to keep your home dry and avoid foundation issues.
And at times, you may be tempted to install and do the gutter maintenance yourself, especially if you’re on a tight budget or would like to save a few bucks.
You might even get on YouTube and look into how you can “DIY gutters.”
However, there are a number of reasons as to why you should avoid doing maintenance, repairs, and installing new seamless gutters on your own.
The biggest being safety concerns. That being said, today we will look into why we heavily advise against doing gutters on your own.
Anyone who has decided to go the DIY route for their gutters should be aware of the potential risks. So if you are the “I think I can do this” guy or gal, before you do, look over these 8 reasons to avoid DIY gutters first!
Why You Need to Avoid DIY Gutters (8 Reasons):
Table of Contents
1. Ladder Accidents
Ladders are the number one reason why you should not only avoid DIY gutters, but also anything that involves your roof area in general.
The biggest concern and risk factor of them all, also the most common injury when working on gutters, is ladder accidents. Improper use of ladders can cause serious injury when done incorrectly or something goes wrong.
Most ladders homeowners possess do not have sufficient height to reach the roof, especially in two-story and three-story homes. Most roofing and gutter accidents involving contractors stem from ladders 70% of the time according to studies.
If you must insist on climbing up the roof yourself, be sure to have another set of hands to help you out and keep the ladder in place while also making sure you’re up there safe. Be sure not to lean back when you’re up on the ladder either. Always take extra caution with ladders!
2. Sectional Gutters Don’t Work
Another temptation of the DIY crowd is to install sectional gutters, because let’s face it, you can’t install seamless gutters yourself.
Sectional gutters are literally what they are called, gutters cut into sections. Typically they are easier to install in comparison to their seamless gutter counterparts since they require machinery to have the exact size gutter for your home.
However, since seamless gutters are not a DIY option, many will resort to sectional gutters that require connection sections of gutters. You may run into multiple issues, all involving leaks, where you may misconnect them or install them incorrectly.
Also, with sectional gutters, most are not entirely sealed, thus there might be a small space where water can leak out from, hence why the best gutter to utilize is a seamless gutter (usually done by a contractor or professional).
Seamless gutters are really inexpensive overall and gutter technology has increased tenfold over the last five years:
3. Seamless Gutters aren’t expensive
While seamless gutters are not DIY friendly, require machinery to create, a contractor to install, and are more expensive than sectional gutters, over the long run, the maintenance on seamless gutters saves you a lot of money!
In comparison to traditional sectional gutters, you may install yourself, in the long run, you actually save money!
The finish on the materials is higher quality on seamless gutters rather than the manufactured pre-cut ones. Not only the finish has better quality, but the gutter itself is also slightly thicker. Able to withstand heavy rainfall and small debris.
Also, a gutter installation company is quick and efficient, and can be done in a few hours!
4. Leaks
Like we mentioned before, sectional gutters are prone to leaks if not installed correctly.
Heck, even installed correctly, the chance of a sectional DIY gutter is very high! And leaks are not limited to simply sectional gutters being installed incorrectly.
Other factors such as a connector being placed incorrectly may clog up the gutter as well. DIY gutters not installed properly could cause damage to the home as well, and quicker than you might think.
A leak, while surprisingly small, can cause damage to a home over time.
DIY might be fun, but causing an unwanted headache and more money to be spent on repairs isn’t worth it!
Furthermore, some leaks are hard to detect, when a contractor takes a good glance at your gutter for leaks, they typically know where and what to inspect.
5. Foundation Issues from Leaks
A tiny leak with a DIY gutter can show up on your floors, in your basement, or cause erosion issues and even mold.
Typically, if the climate around the area is more humid, the faster the mold could spread. Regardless of how fast or slow the mold grows, the biggest cause of mold is leaks or foundational cracks.
And foundational cracks can come from water that isn’t properly drained or taken care of!
6. Constant Maintenance and Upkeep
If we opt for the DIY approach on the gutters to save a few bucks or for other incentives, usually it’s followed by plenty of maintenance after the installation.
From cleaning it once in a while to maybe installing rain guards and providing maintenance on that as well.
An inspection from time to time to check if there any leaks. To also repair any downspouts or gutters in case they get clogged or damaged by debris falling on them. At times, the task at hand is best for a professional to handle if its serious.
7. Safety in General
A lot of people may not have the necessary equipment or tools needed to do maintenance on their gutters. Usually, when working at such high altitudes and with tools, contractors typically wear a hard hat, safety goggles and have a tool belt to bring the tools necessary up and down the ladder easily to do the task at hand.
Without having to fumble much of the materials or tools. This overall creates a big hazard for the homeowner as not being safely and well equipped may cause serious harm.
(At Gutter Gurus, we always recommend calling a contractor before doing anything involving roofs or gutters and requiring a ladder)
8. Damage to Fascia on Home
Gutters are usually connected to a fascia if there is one available on the side of the home. A gutter that is incorrectly installed or is clogged may drag a part of the fascia down over time or simply just damage it. A crack in the fascia could also cause mold to grow or the water cause the material to slowly deteriorate. Potentially being unable to hold the gutter in place and allowing it to fall a portion or entirely.
The last thing you want to do is damage the fascia on your house after you saw a DIY Gutter Pinterest post!
Final Word
We understand that HGTV and Pinterest have made DIY projects around the home very popular.
In fact, we like it when homeowners take their homes seriously and care for them. While we recommend gutter cleaning annually, and you can certainly do it yourself (just be careful) there are better options out there like self-cleaning gutter guards!
That being said, DIY gutter install is not recommended, simply because even if you install sections correctly, there is a high chance of there being a leak!
Instead of DIY gutters, maybe consider DIY pressure washing or painting :)!