Should I repair or replace my gutters?

Repair your gutters when the trouble is in one place and the metal is sound: one or two leaking joints, a few loose hangers, a dented section, or a clogged or loose downspout. Replace them when the problems are everywhere at once: most of the seams leak, the trough is rusted through or split, it sags in several places, it overflows even when clean, or the fascia behind it is rotten along most of the run. Age matters, but condition decides it.

When a repair makes sense

Most gutter trouble is local. A corner mitre or end cap that drips is a resealing job, covered in how to fix a leaking gutter seam. A short run that droops between hangers usually needs hangers added or refastened into sound wood; Amerimax's installation sheet calls for one hanger every 24 inches, or every 18 inches in areas with heavy ice and snow loads.^[4] A downspout that has come loose or a single section crushed by a ladder or falling limb can be swapped out without touching the rest.

Repair is the sensible choice when:

• the problems are confined to one or two runs;
• the metal is sound, with no rust holes or splits along the bottom;
• the fascia behind it is firm;
• the gutter carries the water you get without spilling over the front once it is clean.

When replacement makes more sense

The system is worn out. When most joints leak and the trough is rusting or splitting, resealing one joint just moves the leak to the next. Gutters last longer or shorter depending on the material, how well they were installed and how often they were cleaned. An old galvanized gutter with rust holes is near the end; a newer aluminum one with two bad corners is not.

It has been damaged all along a side. The Building America guide notes that copper and galvanized steel withstand impacts from ladders and tree branches better than vinyl and aluminum, which can crack or dent.^[3] A long aluminum run dented by a falling tree or years of ladders rarely sits true again.

It is too small for the roof. The Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District says 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 and need cleaning.^[2] It adds that spillover from gutters that look clean is a sign the system is undersized, and it suggests considering larger gutters.^[2] No amount of sealant fixes a gutter that cannot carry the water, though extra downspouts sometimes can.

The fascia is rotten along most of the run. A gutter has to come down for fascia to be replaced. Amerimax's replacement procedure starts by removing the old gutters and inspecting the fascia board, replacing it if needed,^[4] and once old, bent sectional gutter is off the wall, putting new gutter up is often little more work than rehanging the old.

The warranty math. New gutter material often carries a manufacturer's warranty. Englert, for one, offers a 20-year limited finish warranty on gutter material installed by authorized designers and installers in accordance with its specifications and maintenance instructions.^[1] Ask any installer which warranty applies and get it in writing. If you replace, compare options in are seamless gutters worth it and how much new gutters cost in Virginia.

Hiring for either job

Ask each business for two prices on the same runs: one to repair, one to replace. Virginia's Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation advises homeowners to get at least three written bids or estimates using identical plans and specifications,^[5] and it says if the work you are considering is valued at $1,000 or more, a valid Virginia Contractor's License is required.^[5] Under the Code of Virginia, a Class C licence covers construction, removal, repair or improvement jobs with a single contract over $1,000 and under $30,000.^[6]

For payment, DPOR suggests an initial deposit of no more than 10% of the total price or $1,000, whichever is less.^[5] Licensed contractors must use a legible written contract for residential work, signed by both the consumer and the contractor before work starts or payment is accepted.^[7] Permits are rarely needed: Pittsylvania County lists gutters among the jobs that need no building permit,^[8] though it is worth asking your own building office if roof sheathing or framing is part of the job.

Costs and what moves them are covered in how much gutter repair costs in Virginia.

Stop and call a pro if

• The gutters are above the first storey, or the only way to inspect them is from the roof.
• A section has torn away from the house or is hanging.
• The fascia is soft or crumbling, or the rafter ends behind it look dark.
• Water is running behind the gutter at the roof edge.

More on eaves and roofs is in the roofing answers and gutter repair on Loclis, or browse exterior pros around Blacksburg. When you are ready for prices, describe the gutter job once and licensed local businesses quote it, repair or replace.