Gutters are one of the more important parts of a roof, even in an aesthetic sense. After all, aside from its obvious utility to whisk water away from your roof to drainage, gutters complement your roofline and highlight the edges of your roof. Without it, your roof would look incomplete; if your gutters look beyond repair, your roof, no matter how beautiful, won’t make a great first impression.
Gutter installation and replacement, then, is an essential homeowner responsibility. Trouble is, a lot of sources on the internet are conflicting on how much it really costs. In today’s post, Patriot Gutters won’t pin exact costs—instead, we’re going to look at four factors that affect gutter replacement costs.
1. Material
This is one of the biggest contributors to total cost. Naturally, the more premium the material, the more expensive the gutter replacement would be.
Fortunately, you will never run out of options when looking for the right gutter material. For example, vinyl is one of the most common, which makes them cost the least, but with the attendant disadvantages of warping, cracking, and regular gutter repairs. The most expensive ones are stainless steel and copper, in that order, with the best combination of aesthetic and utility.
2. Type
In general, there are two types of gutters: sectional and seamless. Sectional gutters are often prefabricated and come in 10- and 20-foot lengths, which are assembled on-site. Seamless ones, meanwhile, use a continuous length with no seams or joints, which are measured to your roofline beforehand. Without the seams of the sectional gutters, seamless ones are less likely to develop leaks—which makes them pricier.
3. Downspouts
Also known as a drain pipe, a downspout carries all the water that the gutter collects and carries it safely to the ground. Like the gutter itself, the downspout’s material—which, ideally, should be made of the same material as the gutter—will affect the cost of the entire project.
4. Labor
Finally, every gutter installation requires human labor. The more time it takes to install, the more the project will cost. Repairs will cost less, for example. Instead of replacing your gutters every time they fail, you can opt to install gutter guards to prolong your gutters’ longevity.
Patriot Gutters is the top gutter replacement contractor in Oklahoma City, OK. Call us today at (405) 925-0188. You can also fill out our form to get started.