Gutter questions, answered

Ask the contractor, because it depends on the house. A simple one-story job can be short, while tall brick walls, cornice repairs or a historic review add time. Get the start date and expected finish in the written agreement, and allow for weather.

Usually. With no joints along the straight runs, there are fewer places for freeze and thaw to open up a leak. Corners and outlets still have joints. See seamless gutters for the differences and for when sectional still makes sense.

Only along the straight runs. Corners, end caps and downspout outlets are still joined and sealed. Those joints are where to look first if a leak appears, so ask how they will be made.

Yes, a contractor can replace a single run. Matching the profile and color of the rest of the house can be the catch, since old paint fades. Ask to see a sample against the existing gutter.

It varies with the metal, the care and the trees, and we have no St. Louis figure we can vouch for. Judge by condition, not age: rust-through, repeated sag and rot behind the trough are the reasons to replace.

Sometimes, but wood around old holes is often soft. Ask for hangers to go into sound wood, and for any bad fascia to be replaced first.

A low, one-story joint is a fair weekend job if you're safe on a ladder: clean it dry, then re-seal it. Tall brick walls and steep roofs are a different matter. The National Park Service notes that beyond cleaning and minor repairs, most roof-edge work calls for an outside contractor.

Usually the fall has been lost, the downspout is too small for the roof area, or a valley dumps more water at one spot than the run can carry. Ask the contractor to check those three things before anything else.

Twice a year suits many houses: late spring and late autumn. Under big oaks, maples or sycamores you may need a third or fourth clean. Look in the gutter after a heavy leaf drop. It will tell you more than any rule.

Wet leaves hold water, and water freezes. That blocks the outlet, so melt backs up and can run over or behind the trough, soaking trim and brick. Heavy ice can also pull hangers loose.

Under heavy trees, or on houses where ladder work is hard, many owners think so. On a house with few trees and an easy reach, two cleanings a year may be simpler. Compare the guard quote with what you'd pay for years of cleaning.

Yes, less often. Debris sits on top and fine grit gets through. Downspouts can still block. Plan on a look at least once a year.

Far enough that the water keeps moving away and doesn't soak back toward the wall. Common advice runs from several feet to ten, and the slope of your ground matters more than any number. In a tight gangway, re-routing may beat extending.

Read it closely and contact MSD directly. MSD says it prefers to work with customers, and in project areas may remove significant connections at no cost for a limited time, if you sign a disconnection agreement. Our guide has more.

They shouldn't be. Hangers need sound wood, and a soft board will let the gutter pull away, sometimes within a winter. Have the bad sections replaced first.

Not over sound wood. It saves painting. The trouble is when wrap goes over rot, because you can't see the damage getting worse. Ask them to show you the wood before it gets covered.

Not by default. A properly lined box gutter can work well and keeps the look of the house. Closing it off and hanging a gutter is simpler but changes the eave, and inside a City Historic District it needs approval. Get a price for relining first.

As with any gutter, clear the leaves and check the outlet, but take care on an old roof edge. Don't walk on old lining with hard tools. Hire this out if you can't reach it safely.

Generally not. The smooth curve leaves fewer corners for debris to lodge in. But the outlet can still plug, and they hold less than K-style, so an overflow can come sooner in a heavy storm.

Eventually, in most exposures. They go from bright to brown fairly quickly and may take years to show green. The look is uneven along the way. Some owners like that, others don't.

Not always. Dents can be cosmetic, though they may pool water or split a seam. Whether your insurer pays is its decision, based on your policy. Photograph them and get a written opinion on what still works.

No. Under RSMo 407.725, a contractor shall not advertise or promise to pay or rebate your insurance deductible as an inducement to sell. Treat the offer as a warning sign, and report concerns to the Attorney General's hotline at 800-392-8222.

It depends on roof area, slope and the local design rainfall, so have it calculated, not guessed. Larger K-style or box profiles and bigger downspouts or scuppers are common. Ask the contractor or your design professional to show the numbers.

Yes. Mention it on the form, along with who should be contacted and whether there are tenants. We pass your request to an independent contractor.