Seamless gutters and gutter guards
We form seamless aluminum gutters on site, cut to the exact length of each run, and size the downspouts for the water your roof actually sheds.
What your gutters protect
Gutters matter less for the roof than for everything below it. Water that spills over the edge soaks the soil against your foundation, splashes up onto siding, rots fascia and finds its way into basements. In a summer downpour, a single roof slope can shed a surprising amount of water in minutes.
Seamless gutters only have joints at the corners and downspouts, so there are far fewer places to leak. We form them on site from coil aluminum, so every straight run is one piece.
Most gutter trouble we see comes from size, slope and downspout placement, not the gutter itself: overflow at inside corners, water standing in sagging runs, and ice that pulls hangers loose by February. Getting those three right is most of the job.
5-inch or 6-inch gutters
Both are K-style seamless aluminum. The right size depends on roof area, pitch and how much water funnels into one spot. We recommend 6-inch when a large or steep section drains into a single run, or a valley empties into one corner.
| Factor | 5-inch K-style | 6-inch K-style |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | Enough for most homes | Noticeably more per foot |
| Best for | Typical roofs and run lengths | Large or steep roofs, valley runoff |
| Downspouts | 2×3 or 3×4 inch | 3×4 inch |
| Look | Slimmer along the fascia | Larger, proportional on bigger homes |
What new gutters include
- Fascia check and repairWe pull the old gutters and check the fascia behind them. Soft or rotten boards are replaced before anything new goes up.
- Drip edge tied inWater that runs behind a gutter rots the fascia. We make sure drip edge or a gutter apron laps into the gutter so runoff lands inside it.
- Hidden hangers, screwed inHangers are screwed into the fascia, not nailed, and spaced closely enough to carry snow and ice.
- Correct slopeEach run pitches toward its downspout, about a quarter inch every 10 feet, so water doesn't sit and freeze.
- Downspouts sized and placedA 3×4-inch downspout carries much more water than a 2×3. We add downspouts on long runs and where valleys concentrate the flow.
- Water carried awayExtensions or splash blocks move water away from the foundation, and we run water through every run before we leave.
Gutter guards for central Iowa trees
Trees here are hard on gutters: maple seeds in spring, cottonwood fluff in early summer, oak and ash leaves in fall. Clogged gutters in November turn into ice-filled gutters in January.
We install micro-mesh guards that stop seeds and shingle grit, and solid toppers that let water curl in while leaves slide off. Neither makes gutters maintenance-free, but they turn twice-a-year ladder work into an occasional brush-off and keep downspouts from clogging.
Hail-dented gutters and insurance
Gutters and downspouts dent from smaller hail than shingles do, sometimes from stones around three-quarters of an inch. Dents along the top edge of a gutter are one of the first things an adjuster checks to judge a storm's size.
Dented gutters usually still drain, but they're often included in a hail claim alongside the roof and siding. If yours took a beating, get the whole house checked with a free inspection. Dents from ladders, mowers or a stray baseball aren't hail, and we won't document them as hail.
Gutters deliver water to one spot. If the ground there slopes toward your house, even perfect gutters will feed the basement. Soil should fall about 6 inches over the first 10 feet from the foundation, and we'll point out any low spots we see.
Questions about gutters
How often should gutters be cleaned?
Without guards, at least twice a year in most of the metro: late spring after the seeds drop and late fall after the leaves. Homes under large trees may need more. Check the downspouts too, since a clog there backs up the whole run.
Should I replace gutters with a new roof?
Not always. If they're in good shape, they can stay. If they're old, sagging or dented, replacing them at the same time makes sense, because the fascia is exposed and the drip edge can be set correctly over the new gutters.
Why do my gutters overflow when they are clean?
Usually it's undersized gutters, too few downspouts or a valley dumping a concentrated stream into one corner. A sagging section that has lost its slope does it too. Larger gutters, an extra downspout or a splash guard at the valley usually solves it.
What colors can I choose?
Aluminum gutters come in a wide range of factory colors, from white and almond to browns, grays and black. We bring a color chart so you can match your trim or fascia.
Can gutter guards affect my roof warranty?
They can if they're installed under or through the shingles, which some products require. The guards we install fasten to the gutter and fascia, so your shingles aren't lifted or nailed through.
Related services
See all services-
Roof replacement
Full tear-off, new underlayment and flashing, usually done in one day.
-
Siding
Vinyl, fiber cement and engineered wood siding, plus house wrap, trim, soffit and fascia.
-
Storm damage and insurance claims
Emergency tarping, hail and wind damage documentation, and help with your insurance claim.
Book your free inspection
Tell us what you're seeing and we'll schedule a visit, usually within a few days. You get photos and a written estimate either way, with no pressure to sign anything.
- (515) 555-0147Call or text, Mon–Fri 7am–7pm, Sat 8am–4pm
- [email protected]
- Storm emergencyCall any time for tarping