When Is the Best Time To Install New Gutters?

Spring is considered to be the best time to see if you need new gutters while summer is the most ideal time to install gutters, or pursue any home improvement project for that matter.

Keep in mind that if your gutters show signs of wear and tear, you should replace them immediately. Remember: Your gutters form part of your roof’s first line of defense against rain. As such, if they have leaks, your roof is vulnerable to leaks and other forms of moisture damage.

How can you tell if your gutters need to be replaced immediately? By keeping an eye out for the warning signs.

Warning Signs Your Gutters Need to Be Replaced

Here’s an overview of the warning signs you need to keep an eye out for:

Cracks and dents – Cracks allow water to leak out of your gutter system. And while dents aren’t an immediate cause for concern, they will eventually cause leaks, which is why gutters with dents should be replaced as soon as possible.

Rust – Rust usually appears at the bottom of aging gutters and is a sign your gutters have reached the end of their lifespan. However, rust can also form as a result of infrequent maintenance. A coat of paint needs to be applied to your gutters if its current coat starts to peel away.

Signs You Need Bigger Gutters

Wear and tear is usually the main reason why roofs would need a new gutter installation. However, you’ll also need to replace your gutters if they don’t have enough capacity.

Here are the signs your gutter doesn’t have enough capacity:

Overflowing water – Rainwater will overflow out of your gutters and spill onto your roof and exterior if they can’t handle the amount of rainfall in your area.
Nails or broken fasteners on the ground and sagging gutters – Over time, the added weight load from overflowing rainwater might become too much for the gutter fasteners. And if the fasteners start to give in under the extra weightload, sections of your gutters might start to sag.
Leaks – The added weightload can also cause sections of your gutters to pull apart from each other, creating leaks.

Important note: The said warning signs can also be caused by infrequent gutter maintenance. If your gutters aren’t cleaned regularly, the weightload from leaves, twigs, and debris tha have accumulated in your gutters might cause your gutters to sag or create leaks. That’s why routine maintenance is a must if you want to keep your gutters—and roofing system—in good condition.

Reducing Your Gutter’s Maintenance Needs

Just don’t have time for chores like gutter cleaning? Or do you want gutter maintenance to be just a bit more convenient? Gutter covers would be a smart investment. They prevent leaves and other debris from entering and clogging your gutters, reducing its overall maintenance needs. Keep in mind that gutter covers can only reduce, not eliminate, your gutter’s maintenance needs. That is except for Gutter Helmet®, the only brand on the market with a Never Clean Your Gutters Again® guarantee.

How does Gutter Hemet work? Gutter Helmet gutter guards take advantage of surface tension to divert rainwater to your gutters. Surface tension happens when water molecules stick tightly to each other when they have nowhere else to cling to. A good example of surface tension would be how water in a glass forms a dome right before it spills over. When rain hits Gutter Helmet’s textured-and-ribbed surface, water is directed to the gutter covers’ patented nose-forward design, allowing it to enter your gutters without getting impeded while keeping leaves and other kinds of debris out. And since Gutter Helmet is attached using heavy-duty mounting brackets, there’s no need to worry about your gutter covers being dislodged.

Here’s another pro-tip: The added weight load from ice dams can also cause sections of your gutters to pull apart. Not to mention it can keep water and thawed ice from reaching your gutters. To prevent ice dams from forming, you can install heated gutter systems.

Why Choose Helmet Heat?

If you’re installing Gutter Helmet, you might want to consider installing Helmet Heat® as well. What makes Helmet Heat different from other brands? Unlike other gutter heating systems, Helmet Heat doesn’t overheat your gutters. Its self-regulating heating cable raises your gutters’ temperature just enough to make sure ice dams don’t form, but not too much that your gutters become hot to the touch.

As an added benefit, Helmet Heat heated gutter systems are fully compatible with Gutter Helmet covers. Helmet Heat’s self-regulating cables are hidden beneath the gutter covers, minimizing disruption to your exterior’s design.

Choosing a Gutter Replacement

In addition to making sure your new gutters are large enough, you also need to choose a gutter replacement that can handle your area’s climate. Here’s an overview of the commonly used gutter materials:

Aluminum – Aluminum is lightweight and corrosion-resistant, making it a popular choice among homeowners.
Zinc – Aluminum gutters aren’t without their disadvantages. One of them is that they’re prone to suffering dents. If you’re looking for a more durable alternative to aluminum, zinc gutters would be a smart choice. They’re made from an alloy made from 99.5 percent zinc and tiny amounts of copper and titanium. Thanks to their exceptional durability, zinc gutters can last twice as long as aluminum gutters.
Galvanized steel – Galvanized steel gutters are coated with a layer of zinc to protect them from corrosion.
Copper – Copper gutters are one of the most expensive—but also one of the most durable—options on the market.

Here’s a pro-tip: To learn more about your gutter options, you should consult one of your local gutter installation contractors. Since they’re familiar with the local climate and building codes, they can make better recommendations.

Why Install Seamless Gutters

If you’re looking for more leak-resistant gutters, you might want to consider installing seamless gutters. Since they, as the name suggests, lack seams or joints—a weak point in conventional gutter systems—they last longer than standard gutter systems and are less leak-prone.

Here’s a pro-tip: To maximize the returns on investment on your new seamless gutters, it’s recommended that you get a warranty for them. The custom US-made seamless gutters offered by Barry Best Seamless Gutters are backed with a 20-year manufacturer’s warranty, plus our own 10-year warranty that covers labor and installation.

The Other Times When You Need to Replace Your Gutters

Aside from spring and summer, you should have your gutters replaced when you get a new roof or before you sell your house. And if you’re still not sure if your gutters need to be replaced, it’s best to have a gutter contractor inspect them.

One more thing: To make sure your new gutters are installed correctly, only qualified contractors should handle their installation. Here are some quick vetting tips:

Hire local – To quickly narrow down your options, you can focus your search on contractors with offices located in your area.
Check their online reviews – Keep in mind that a few negative reviews aren’t necessarily a red flag. Miscommunication happens sometimes, after all. In these cases, what you need to focus on is the contractor’s response to online complaints. Did they take the time to respond to the online complaints? And if so, was it done professionally?
Find out how long a contractor has been in business – The number of years a contractor has been in business should give you a good idea of their level of expertise.

Barry Best Seamless Gutters, a contractor with nearly three decades of experience, offers a wide range of gutter installation services as well as premium seamless gutters. To get a free estimate, call us at (315) 697-5000 or fill out this form.