Gutter services: installation, guards, and repairs

By Panyala · Last updated October 26, 2026 · How we write and review guides

Gutters protect your foundation, siding, and landscaping by moving roof water away from the house. Here's what the common gutter jobs involve, what drives the price, and which guides to read before you collect quotes.

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New gutter installation and replacement

Most homes today get seamless aluminum gutters, formed on site from a coil by a machine on the installer's truck so each run is one continuous piece. Sectional gutters, sold in pre-cut lengths at home centers, are a common DIY choice. The difference matters for leaks; our guide to gutter styles explains the pros and cons of sectional and pre-cut gutters.

A typical installation includes removing old gutters, checking the fascia board for rot, hanging new gutters with proper slope, adding end caps and outlets, and installing downspouts and elbows to carry water away from the foundation.

What affects the price of new gutters

• Linear feet of gutter and number of downspouts
• Material: aluminum, steel, vinyl, copper, or zinc
• Size and profile: 5-inch vs 6-inch, K-style vs half-round
• Height and roof pitch: two- and three-story work takes more time and equipment
• Fascia repair if wood behind the old gutters is rotted
• Add-ons: gutter guards, larger downspouts, underground drains

Gutter hangers

Hangers hold the gutter to the house, and they're a common failure point on cheap installs. The main types:

• Hidden hangers for K-style gutters: clip inside the front lip and screw through the back into the fascia. Most modern K-style gutter hangers are this type, typically made of aluminum or plastic.
• Spike and ferrule: a long nail through a tube. An older method that tends to loosen over time.
• Brackets and straps: used for half-round gutters and where there's no fascia. Half-round gutter hangers are often decorative brackets or shank-and-circle hangers.

Aluminum gutter hangers are the most common choice for aluminum gutters because they won't cause galvanic corrosion with the gutter. Spacing matters as much as type: many installers space hangers roughly every 2 to 3 feet, closer in areas with heavy snow and ice. Ask for the spacing in writing.

Gutter guards

Guards reduce how often you have to clean gutters, but none are maintenance-free. Types range from cheap screens to micro-mesh and reverse-curve covers. Read our gutter guards pros and cons before you buy.

Downspouts and drainage

Gutters only help if the water ends up well away from the foundation. Downspout size, placement, and extensions matter. Our downspout guide covers sizes such as 2x3, 3x4, and 4x5, round downspouts, and A vs B elbows.

Colored gutters and downspouts

Aluminum and steel gutters come prefinished in a range of colors so they can match or contrast with your trim, siding, or roof. See the rain gutter color chart in our gutter styles guide for common color families and tips on choosing.

Repairs and maintenance

• Leaking seams or corners: resealing with gutter sealant, or replacing a section
• Sagging: adding or replacing hangers and fixing slope
• Overflow: clearing clogs, adding downspouts, or upsizing to 6-inch gutters
• Pulled-away gutters: often a sign of rotted fascia that needs repair first

Before you collect gutter quotes

Measure roughly how many feet of gutter you have, count downspouts, and note any problem spots such as overflowing corners or water pooling at the foundation. Then use our list of questions to ask a gutter installer so you can compare quotes fairly.