How long do aluminum gutters last?

Aluminum gutters can last for decades, but no government or manufacturer source puts a single lifespan on them, because it depends on the weather, the original installation, the quality of the metal and how well they are kept up. What the sources do show is where aluminum gutters fail, and the manufacturer's finish warranty gives a floor for the paint. Weather, installation and metal quality are fixed once the gutters are up; upkeep is the part you control. Gutters that are cleaned, kept tight to sound fascia and left alone by ladders give themselves the best chance of a long life.

How aluminum compares

Aluminum is a common gutter metal, but it is soft. The Building America Solution Center, run for the U.S. Department of Energy, says all gutter materials weather well, but copper and galvanized steel withstand impacts from ladders and tree branches better than vinyl and aluminum, which can crack or dent.^[1] That is the main weakness of aluminum: thin metal bends and dents, and a dented or kinked section holds water and debris.

The painted finish is a separate question from the metal. Englert, a coil maker, offers a 20-year limited finish warranty on gutter material installed by authorized designers and installers in accordance with its specifications and maintenance instructions.^[2] A warranty is not a lifespan, but it is a written minimum for the finish. Faded or chalky paint is cosmetic; it does not mean the gutter has failed.

What actually wears out

Aluminum gutters rarely fail because the metal gives out. They fail at the parts around it:

• Joints. Corners, end caps and the seams of sectional gutters are sealed by hand, and the sealant ages. Dripping joints are usually the first sign of age.
• Hangers. Spikes back out of the wood and hangers bend under weight, and the gutter starts to sag and hold water. See why gutters pull away from the house.
• Fascia. Years of overflow or water running behind the gutter rot the board it hangs on. Once the fascia goes, no hanger holds.
• Dents and kinks. Ladders, falling limbs and sliding snow bend the thin metal, and a kinked section collects water and debris.

How to make them last

Keep them clean. Fairfax County's Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District says gutters should be cleaned at least once a year, and more often if you have trees close to the house.^[3] Debris holds water, adds weight and keeps the metal and the fascia wet.

Clear them before winter. The Building America guide advises homeowners in cold climates to make sure the gutters are clean as winter approaches so they can drain and do not fill with water that could freeze.^[1] Ice in a gutter adds weight the hangers have to carry.

Keep the hangers tight and close. Amerimax's installation sheet calls for one hanger every 24 inches, or every 18 inches in areas with heavy ice and snow loads.^[4] Replacing a loose hanger takes minutes; replacing a sagged run takes a crew.

Keep the slope. Gutters should slope at least 1/16 inch per foot of run toward the downspouts.^[1] A section that holds water keeps its joints wet and loads its hangers. If yours has flattened out, see how to adjust gutters so they drain properly.

Watch for overflow. The Northern Virginia district notes that streaks or watermarks on the outside of the gutters and downspouts, and erosion along the drip line, are signs the gutters overflow when it rains.^[3] Overflow is how fascia rot starts.

Keep the downspouts working. The Building America guide says downspouts should end at least 5 feet from the foundation.^[1] A blocked downspout backs water up into the gutter and over the edge.

Keep ladders and branches off. Lean a ladder on the wall or use a stand-off instead of resting it on the gutter, and keep overhanging limbs trimmed back, except near power lines (see below).

Work safely from the ladder

Most of this upkeep is done from a ladder. Virginia Commonwealth University's ladder safety program pulls the base out so its distance from the wall is one-fourth the height to the point of support,^[6] and says the top rest for a rung ladder has to be rigid and strong enough to support the load,^[6] which a gutter is not. It adds that the top two rungs of a straight or extension ladder are not for standing,^[6] and it bars ladder use outdoors in winds over 20 miles per hour.^[6] Move the ladder along the run rather than leaning out for the next hanger.

Look up before you raise the ladder or a pole saw. Virginia's Overhead High Voltage Line Safety Act forbids work that puts a person or a ladder within 10 feet of any overhead high voltage line,^[7] and VCU's program says metal ladders must not be used when working on or near electrical wires.^[6] Give the service wire that feeds the house the same distance, and leave branches that touch or hang near any of these wires alone.

Signs it is time for new gutters

• Joints leak along most of the runs even after resealing.
• Several sections sag or pull away, or the gutter is badly dented or kinked.
• Clean gutters still overflow in ordinary rain, so the system is too small for the roof.
• The fascia behind them needs replacing, which means taking the gutters down anyway.

For what replacement involves, see how much new gutters cost in Virginia and whether seamless gutters are worth it.

Stop and call a pro if

• The gutters are above the first storey, or the only way to reach them is from the roof.
• An overhead power line or the service wire into the house runs within 10 feet of the gutter, the ladder or a branch you want to cut. Virginia law forbids work that puts a person or a ladder within 10 feet of an overhead high voltage line.^[7]
• The fascia is soft, stained or split behind the gutter, or water runs down behind it.
• A section has come loose, is hanging or is badly kinked.
• You are replacing the system. In Virginia, a Class C licence covers construction, removal, repair or improvement jobs with a single contract over $1,000 and under $30,000,^[5] so check the licence of anyone quoting in that range.

Browse gutter install and repair businesses, the other exterior answers, or exterior pros around Blacksburg. When it needs work, describe the gutter repair once and licensed local businesses quote it.