Gutters | Arocon Roofing And Construction

How Much Do Gutters Cost?

“How much will new rain gutters for my home cost?”

It’s a question we hear often, and the short answer is around $1,780, for the average Maryland home. However it does depend on several things, but this guide is intended to assist you in your shopping by offering some basic guidelines.

Gutters are often an afterthought to a roofing or siding project, but few components of your home are more important. Your gutters channel all that rainwater off your roof and direct it if they’re properly designed and installed away from your home’s foundation.

Home rain gutters have been made of many different materials over the years: galvanized steel, copper, vinyl, even wood. For our purposes we’ll discuss aluminum gutters, which are the choice of the vast majority of homeowners. Aluminum is lightweight, durable, doesn’t rust (or turn green like copper), doesn’t become brittle over time like vinyl, and is generally the most cost-effective option in gutters.

When we talk about “gutters” for your home, there are generally two major components: the gutters, which run horizontally along the edge of your roof, and the downspouts, which run vertically to deliver the rainwater to ground level. There are various other parts to connect the sections and fasten them to your home, but gutters and downspouts will account for the majority of the cost.

Most residential rain gutters are 5 inches wide, but for larger roofs or those that are more steeply pitched, 6-inch gutters may be necessary to handle the runoff. A wider gutter will require a bigger downspout. Don’t skimp here: a sudden storm can quickly overwhelm an undersized gutter and cause water damage to your home.

Similarly, white gutters and downspouts look great on most homes, but yours may look better with a beige or brown color. Color choice will affect the cost as well.

Labor for the project may vary somewhat also … it’s more complicated and time-consuming to install gutters on the third story of a home than on a rancher where they’re 10 feet off the ground.

The final wild card in the cost is the addition of a gutter guard system to keep leaves and other debris from clogging your system. Cleaning gutters is a dirty job at best and a very dangerous one at worst; a quality system that allows water to enter your gutters without all the leaves can be a great investment in your own safety.

So that’s why the answer is, “It depends.” The cost of your gutter system will depend on not only how many linear feet of gutters and downspouts but their size, color and whether or not you’ll add a gutter guard system.

However, based on AROCON’s database of projects completed on Maryland homes, we can tell you that most gutter replacement projects will fall within a range of $8 to $12 per linear foot. That includes labor and material to install the gutters, downspouts and all the accessories needed to connect them together.

Gutters are often an afterthought, but they shouldn’t be. A properly installed gutter system can pay for itself many times over in the damage it prevents.

Prepare Your Roof And Gutters For Spring

As the weather turns warmer, it’s time to get your roof and gutters ready for Spring showers. Snow and ice can damage even the sturdiest roof, meaning that an inspection and some repairs may be necessary.

One way to inspect your roof is by looking at it through binoculars from ground level. Have another person on hand and be careful when climbing onto your roof to remove larger items such as branches and wind-blown leaves. If it’s necessary to get onto your roof, but you don’t feel comfortable doing it, or if your insurance policy forbids it, call in professional help.

1. Remove Any Foreign Objects.
The first step in preparing your roof for Spring-time is to remove any debris you might find. Sticks, pine-needles, and other plant matter will clog gutters and ventilation stacks, possibly causing water damage as well as excess moisture buildup in the attic.

2. Check Your Roof For Damage.
Make note of any missing or damaged shingles or tiles. Shingles that are buckling or appear smooth should be replaced. Torn or missing flashing, which is the material that covers the chimney where it passes through the roof, needs immediate attention. Otherwise, rainwater can get into places it shouldn’t be able to reach. Ventilation stacks help your attic shed moisture, allowing the top part of your house to ‘breathe.’ If they’re showing signs of damage, fix them as soon as possible. Caulking and weatherstrips stop moisture from creeping under your roofing materials and into your home. Remember to replace rotten and loose caulking with a fresh application of a weather-proof, silicone caulk.

3. Check Your Attic For Holes.
From inside your attic or crawlspace, check for signs of water or daylight intrusion. If you find damp beams, dripping water, or patches of standing water, chances are there’s a leak that needs attention. Water flows downhill, so remember to check along the roof’s peak when looking for leaks. Look for and get rid of patches of mold inside your home. These are likely caused by excessive moisture buildup.

4. Fix Any Damage.
Make sure all downspouts and gutters are firmly attached. Ice and snow can be too heavy for some gutters and will pull their anchors loose. Replace any missing tiles, shingles, flashing, and caulking. Plug existing holes, or use chalk to mark their location and call in a roofing expert for help. The sooner damage is fixed, the sooner you’ll rest easily knowing your home will stay safe and dry during the next Spring downpour.

Taking care of your roof and gutters with some basic spring maintenance will help extend their lifespans, saving you money in the long run. At AROCON Roofing and Construction, we offer the roof tune-up that includes shingle repair, caulking, and more!

5 Step Guide to Fall Gutter Maintenance

With fall well underway, it is important for homeowners to maintain their gutters. The falling leaves are great to look at, but they also pose a risk for property damage. Fallen leaves and other debris can clog up your gutters, increasing the chance that your gutters will malfunction during the winter.

If gutter damage is a concern for you, break out your fall sweaters and check out this five step guide to proper fall gutter maintenance:

Step One – Safety Precautions.

While fall gutter maintenance is essential to good home maintenance, it can be a dangerous job. You should never perform gutter maintenance without proper glove wear and eye protection.

Additionally, you should always use a standalone ladder while working on your gutter system. Remember, safety should always be your first priority in any fall gutter maintenance.

Step Two – Remove Leaf Debris

Leaf debris are the leading cause of fall gutter damage. Accumulated leaves can prevent water flow, leading to extensive exterior damage to your home.

Neglected leaves can also rot, weighing down your gutters and potentially damaging your whole gutter system. Regularly clear your gutters of leaf debris in the fall, and it will pay off in the winter.

Step Three – Water leak test

After your gutters are clear of debris, you should perform a water leak test. Run a steady stream of water through your gutters. This will reveal any leaking spots within your gutter system. Doing so will notify you of problem areas before they result in extensive damage.

Step Four – Seal Cracks

Once you have identified cracks and leaks, you should seal them as soon as possible. You should be able to address any minor leaks with a quality sealant. However, for more severe damage, you should consult a professional.

Step Five – Consult a Professional

If your gutter system has legitimate damage that should be addressed by a professional, contact a local contractor to ensure your gutters receive quality, cost-efficient maintenance.

Even if you don’t spot any serious problems, it’s always a good idea to get your gutters inspected periodically as a preventative measure. At AROCON Roofing and Construction, we offer gutter tune-up services which includes cleaning, caulking, and tightening your gutters, plus more.

Avoid A Gutter Problem This Fall

Every fall, I love watching the leaves turn gold and red and orange, and I especially enjoy hearing the crunching sound when I walk through piles of leaves. The temperature cools down after a long stretch of summer heat. There’s a cool breeze in the air that’s perfect for sweater weather. Autumn is such an amazing time of the year!

… Except for the damage that the season brings to the gutters. Cleaning and maintaining the gutters is often an overlooked task, until someone discovers that there’s a problem with their gutters. This fall, avoid the headache of dysfunctional gutters by taking a bit of time to clean and inspect them. Here are some of the steps that you should take to maintain your gutters this fall:

Remove the debris and leaves that have collected in your gutters. You can either climb a ladder and clean your gutters out yourself by pulling out the debris and leaves yourself, or you can hire a contractor to do the work for you. It’s important to periodically clean out your gutters to avoid having them become clogged. In addition, rotting debris may also invite mosquitos, carpenter ants, and other unwelcome critters into your gutters. Yuck! According to Home Advisors, Inc., most homeowners spent between $100 and $189 on cleaning their gutters and downspouts.

Use a hose with high water pressure of a power washer to clean out the interior of your gutters. Because it can be really easy for small pieces of debris to remain in your gutters even after you have diligently removed the larger clogged materials, washing out the gutters is a critical step in extending the life of your gutters. When cleaning them, aim the opening on the hose toward the downspout and scrub out any stains or dirt that you see.

Inspect your gutters for any signs of damage that could lead to problems down the road. Are your gutters sagging or leaking? Are there any noticeable gaps? Do you see any signs of mold or mildew growing on your gutters that could potentially become a health hazard? If you notice any problems with your gutters, contact a licensed technician to have the issue professionally examined and fixed. Don’t wait until after the next big storm to fix the problem, because at that point, you will have to make even bigger repairs, which will cost you even more than if you fix the problem as soon as you see it.

Add gutter guards. One of the most effective ways to prevent your gutters from becoming clogged with debris, fallen leaves, and roofing particles is by installing gutter guards. Not only will clogged gutters obstruct the drainage of your gutters, the rubbish that’s stuck in your gutters may even cause your gutters to shift, which can lead to water leaking into your home during a big storm.

But what if your gutters aren’t working properly? Don’t delay in treating your gutters because if there’s a big rainstorm, you could end up with water damage to the foundation of your house, which could leave you with very expensive repair bills. If you’re looking for trained professionals to inspect or repair your gutters, our AROCON technicians have experience installing and fixing gutters, and we’d be happy to help!

After you’ve taken care of your gutters, you can go back to enjoying the changing colors of the foliage and maybe even check out one of these top 10 places to see autumn leaves!

Get Your Mind in The Gutter

Last winter will be remembered for some serious snow storms and, from the looks of it, this summer will see its share of heavy precipitation as well. Over time, all that snow, ice, and water takes its toll on your home, especially on the gutters.

Although it may not look like it from the ground, your gutters are actually a critical part of the system that drains water off your roof and away from your home. If you have gaps, cracks, or clogs in your gutters and water can’t flow into your downspouts, then it’s going to overflow your gutters, leading to water running down the side of your home—kind of a big deal if you’re trying to keep water OUT of your home! Often times there is a direct correlation between a wet—or damp—basement and a problem with gutters draining properly.

The good news is, you don’t necessarily have to spend a lot of money to bring your gutters up to spec. here are four things you can do personally to keep your gutters flowing properly and water away from your house:

1. Clean your gutters regularly, at least twice a year. If you live on a property with a lot of trees, you may have to clean the gutters more often. For the adventurous types who don’t mind the ladder work, most of the time you can get the job done in a half a day or less (depending on the size of your house, of course). All you really need is a ladder, a pair of gloves, a garden trowel or putty knife, and a little bit of patience for dirty work. If you can do it safely, use a hose to spray the gutters and the downspouts out. If you’re not comfortable climbing ladders or think it’s a better fit for professionals, don’t worry; you’re not alone!

2. Inspect your gutters regularly, at least twice a year. If you go the DIY route and clean the gutters yourself, make sure you spend some inspecting while you clean.

Are all the gutters tight to the house with no gaps?
Are all the seams tight?
Are the end caps in place?
As there any sag along the run of the gutters?
Do the downspouts carry water away from the house and foundation?

If you notice any deficiencies, it might be time to bring in the experts for a little tune-up.

3. Install gutter guards. The best way to keep your gutters clean is to make sure you keep as much dirt out as possible. While no system is fool proof, there are a bunch of good products out there that you can easily install yourself.

4. Trim trees further back from your house. Leaves cause more than raking headaches every fall; they also stay behind in your gutter year-long and become a slimy black mess that will definitely block up your downspouts. The weight of wet leaves paired with snow can also cause your gutters to pull away from the house or even collapse—which causes even more, and more expensive problems—so making sure leaves don’t collect in the gutters is pretty important. Keeping trees trimmed back a couple of feet from the roof line of your home will definitely help keep the gutters clean.

How Much Do Gutters Cost?

Prepare Your Roof And Gutters For Spring

5 Step Guide to Fall Gutter Maintenance

Avoid A Gutter Problem This Fall

Get Your Mind in The Gutter

Licenses

Services

Company