Gutters and Gutter Guards: A Complete Guide for Buyers

Find Out Why You Need Gutters, Why They Leak, the Different Types of Gutters, and the Importance of Gutter Guards

You want your home to be protected against foundational and landscaping damage that can happen thanks to water pooling and inadequate gutter systems. You need a gutter system that’s designed to protect your home from damage and is designed to be durable, low maintenance, and attractive.

The problem? Most gutter systems are made from subpar materials and don’t live up to these needs.

Maybe your gutters don’t live up to your expectations, and you’re frustrated or concerned about the implications.

Maybe your home doesn’t have gutters, and you’re worried about the potential issues that can cause.

Maybe you’re seeing the following signs that your gutters are doing more harm than good:

• Your gutters are sagging, leaking, or show visible signs of wear
• Your downspouts are broken or missing
• Your foundation shows signs of water damage
• Your walls and ceilings are beginning to display water spots
• Your roof is leaking
• Your landscaping is flooded
• Your basement leaks or floods
• Your roof has signs of deterioration to the shingles, soffits, or fascia

The solution to these challenges? A gutter replacement with brand-new, durable, high-quality gutters.

At LeafCo Gutters, we’re proud to help homeowners protect their home and their landscaping from water damage by installing new gutters with impeccable craftsmanship and top-of-the-line gutter materials.

Guide Chapters

Why Do I Need Gutters?

What makes gutters so important? Why are they so necessary?

If installed correctly, you probably won’t notice all the work your gutters do to carry water away from your home. When water is washed down your roof, your gutters and downspouts carry it away from your home to protect it from damage that can happen when water pools or continually rushes over the same areas over and over.

Gutters are an essential part of protecting a home’s foundation. They prevent flooding and water seeping into the basement and lower levels of your home. They prevent erosion of your landscaping—not to mention potential issues with fungus in your landscaping—and eliminate puddles and ice on your sidewalk.

Your home’s gutters are the best preventive measure you can take to shield your home from water creeping into your roof or exterior, where shingles can wash away or water can damage paint or cause watermarks. Gutters can also keep water from getting into your home and leaving watermarks on interior ceilings and walls.

Other reasons you need gutters:

• Your roof overhang is less than 10 inches
• Your home is surrounded by landscaping, grass, and earth
• Your property slopes towards your home instead of away from it

How Your Gutter Systems Work

Gutters come in an array of materials, but the basic principles of how they work are essentially the same; they carry water away from your home.

Your home’s gutter system is made of a few different pieces. The gutters themselves are attached horizontally to the very edge of the roof. Affixed at a very slight angle, gutters direct water to your downspouts, which carry the water down to the ground level, where underground drain pipes lead the water away from the foundation of your home.

Do I Need Gutter Guards?

When gutters become clogged with leaves, twigs, and debris, rain spills over the side of the gutter and can run straight into your foundation or collect in your landscaping and do all kinds of damage.

Gutter guards can be a valuable, low-maintenance way to prevent clogged gutters from wreaking havoc on your home and garden. As a homeowner, why should you opt to install gutter guards?

• They prevent clogs due to leaves or debris
• They block the accumulation of ice and snow
• They drain water effectively to prevent flooded walkways and landscaping
• They deter pests and small animals from finding their way into your home
• They safeguard your home from foundational and water damage
• They help keep pests, insects, and squirrels from nesting in your gutters
• They reduce the risk of clogged gutters, which can also prevent or decrease the risk of gutter fires

At LeafCo, we recommend Klean Gutter leaf guards and Shur Flo gutter guards because they are both strong additions to any existing gutter system.

Klean Gutter leaf guards separate rainwater from all solids. They’re made from surgical-grade steel and prevent roof oil buildup. Shur Flo gutter guards are made from high-quality, rustproof aluminum that keeps snow from building up during icy Chicago winters and prevents leaves, twigs, and pine needles from finding their way into your gutters.

The Gutter Installation Process

What are you getting into when you schedule a gutter replacement? Here’s a brief overview of what your gutter installation process will look like:

Planning

Before we begin to install your new gutters, we’ll inspect every part of your gutters and look for places where soffits and fascia may need to be replaced. We’ll consider the location and length of your downspouts as well as how sloped your gutters should be for maximum effectiveness. We’ll also consult with you on which gutters will look and function best for your home.

Preparation

Before new gutters can be installed, old gutters have to be carefully removed. Then your gutters are cut to the appropriate length for each portion of your home for a seamless gutter system.

Installation

Gutters are hung to the fascia boards of your home using strong hangers that are made to withstand years of exposure to the elements and the weight of water rushing through the gutters. We work only with highly qualified, expert craftsmen to protect your beloved home. When done, we thoroughly clean your entire yard, leaving no trace of our work behind.

Typically, your installation is finished within a single day, unless a problem arises or we need to spend a little more time on custom work.

Why hire a local professional to install your new gutters? A local gutter specialist like LeafCo Gutters knows what it’s like to work on homes just like yours in your area. We’ve encountered homes that have weathered the same winters and were built by the same carpenters. We understand how to match the style of your home to fit your neighborhood.

And a professional will install your gutters to ensure your gutters have just the right angle to prevent water pooling and flooding. It’s hard to achieve that same kind of precision. You can’t ensure the same if you try to do it yourself.

How Much Do New Gutters Cost?

What will your gutter replacement cost? You’re investing in the structural integrity of your home.

The cost of new gutters depends on a lot of things, including the materials you choose, which can vary greatly in price. Choosing specialty gutters like copper gutters may cost more, but they also have a higher return on investment.

What factors can impact the price?

• The width of your gutters
• The length of your gutters
• Additional add-ons like gutter guards
• Your downspouts
• The labor it takes to install your gutters

Gutter prices are typically factored by the foot, so the more roof you have, the more your new gutters may cost. Your home’s height and size can impact your total cost of replacement.

When you need new gutters, you shouldn’t have to wait. At LeafCo Gutters, we have financing options available so when your gutters are past their prime, you can replace them without delay or risk of additional damage to your home. Our financing options are designed to fit your budget because we’re committed to serving our Chicago area neighbors.