Should You Replace Gutters When Replacing Your Roof?
Getting a new roof is a big project, one that typically lasts a day or two for professional contractors to complete. When your old roof is being dismantled and replaced, it’s a good time to also consider replacing other vital components of the system. One of these is features is the gutter system, an integral part in helping shuttle away water, protecting the roof, the shingles, and the house’s foundation.
When you’re already having your roof replaced, should you consider upgrading your gutters, too?
Why It Makes Sense
It mainly makes sense to upgrade your gutter system upon the replacement of your roof if your gutters were poor to begin with. A gutter replacement would mean you’ve been experiencing clogged and ineffective gutters for some time. The effects of a failing gutter system include discovering a wet, damp, or moldy basement with clear foundational issues, clogged gutters with leaves and debris, and noticing that water runoff isn’t being channeled away from your home as it should be during heavy rainstorms.
Perhaps you’ve been noticing staining on your basement walls from water seepage or you’ve noticed discoloration around window frames. These problems can also manifest in the form of curling wallpaper, damp carpet, or doors and windows that won’t close properly due to a shifting foundation. Gutters are a critical feature in keeping water away from a home’s foundation, and as homeowners are aware, water damage and foundational issues are expensive and complicated to resolve. Getting new gutters, on the other hand, are a cheap prevention to what could be a huge and costly mess.
Aside from that main point of suffering from poor gutters, there are a few other reasons to think about tacking on a new system with a roof update as well. You might initially baulk at the idea of spending even more money, especially if you believe you don’t really need to, but you’d be surprised at just how much you could save by doubling up on these jobs.
You’ll certainly save money by not paying for a contractor to come out to your home twice. With the roof being taken off, there’s an opportunity for a professional to easily install the gutters with the new roof without too much of a hassle. You’ll cut down on the cost of labor and you won’t have to worry about scheduling them to come out once more to do the gutters. Gutters are often removed when a new roof is installed anyway, so replacing them during this step makes sense.
When It Doesn’t Make Sense
Only replace your gutters if you’ve noticed they’re in bad condition, there are problems with drainage on your property, and there are clear signs of water damage. Otherwise, you’ll be spending money you don’t need to spend.
Start an investigation prior to having contractors come out and work on replacing your roof. Examine your gutter system for signs of damage. Are the gutter runs dented or in poor shape? Are leaves clogging and causing the gutter runs to sag? Do you notice that there are cracks or broken components?
When you’re looking directly at signs of gutter deterioration, also scope your home’s exterior for signs of water damage. This is also an indication of poor gutters that will need to be replaced, as mentioned before. Telltale signs include paint that’s peeling around the outside of your home as well as rust marks on the siding. If there is water damage, then it should be apparent on the underside of the eaves.
Another way to tell if you need new gutters is to examine them during and after a heavy rain. If you see that water is pooling near the foundation of your home and not out of the downspouts as it should, then you probably need new gutters. You might be able to get away with just a gutter repair instead of a full replacement, but you’ll need to break out the ladder and get up close to find out.
But perhaps the best method in determining if you need new gutters is to ask your roofing professional. They are trained and experienced and have seen prime examples of both high-quality gutters and gutters that desperately need to be replaced or repaired. Your roofing contractor, when he comes out to give you an estimate on your roof replacement, can also provide insight on what to do about your gutters at the same time. If they do need to be repaired or replaced, he can then add this onto their current roofing job, which can cut down on labor and time.
Always Good to Check
Your gutter system, like your roof, is essential in keeping your home protected from the outer elements. Without it, you’ll be staring at water damage, which can wreak havoc on your home’s foundation and structure. Not only that, but you’ll have to fix the damage, and that impacts your wallet and home’s resale value.
A gutter system is an investment—just like your roof—but in replacing both you’ll be protecting your home and upgrading it.  It’s not a bad thing to consider if you need new gutters, but if they’re working well and you don’t see any of the indications of water damage, you can certainly skip new gutters and save the money. Just be sure to check them annually and routinely clean them out.
Gutter Replacement
Are your gutters are old due to wear and tear and in need of a replacement? At Feldco Roofing we utilize the best in products and service. Get a free quote right now and see why so many homeowners count on us.
