Frequently Asked

Commonly asked questions about gutter installation:

1. What is a seamless gutter? Seamless gutters are formed on the work site in order to match the measurements needed for a particular job. Gutters can be formed ranging from a single foot-long piece all the way to a length exceeding a hundred feet or more.

2. What is a leader or downspout? These terms are interchangeable. Gutters run along the roof lines in a horizontal fashion, while leaders or downspouts are the pieces that run vertical along the walls of the home connecting the gutter to the ground.

3. How are gutters secured to the home? There are a variety of acceptable installation methods, which all depend on the specific job specs. However, most homes with a flat fascia board should have gutters installed using hidden hangers fastened with screws. The benefits of this installation method are as follows: (1) they allow the gutter to float at the lip for expansion and contraction, (2) quality hangers will not rust, and (3) hidden hangers are much stronger than other tested installation methods.

4. What colors are available? Standard color options range from 20 to 25 colors. However, through Alcoa's Dream Color technology the possibilities are almost limitless. Contact us for further information and color samples.

5. What is gutter guard, leaf protection, leaf guard? The main purpose behind all these terms is to limit or eliminate the need for routine maintenance and cleaning of rain gutters. Currently, there are literally hundreds of products on the marketplace which all claim to achieve the aforementioned goals.

6. How often should I clean my gutters? This varies from property to property. Homes surrounded by many trees may want to have gutters cleaned 3 to 4 times a year, while homes with a less amount of trees can get away with a single cleaning per year.

7. What is the standard aluminum gauge of your gutters? Most companies install .027 gauge aluminum gutters.

8. What happens if the wood behind my gutters is rotted? More often than not, when it comes to replacing gutters on an older home where the fascia board has never been wrapped in aluminum or routinely painted, the wood becomes brittle and or rotted. At the time of the estimate it is difficult to determine this fact. However, before the new gutters are installed it is highly recommended that the wood be replaced.

9. Do copper gutters cost more than aluminum gutters? Copper gutters cost significantly more than aluminum, due to cost of the material and extra time needed during the installation.

10. How long does a typical gutter replacement take? Our experienced crew can complete most jobs in 2 to 8 hours.