St. Louis homeowner guide
Box gutters vs hanging gutters on old St. Louis houses
By Gutter Installation St. Louis, a referral service. Updated November 3, 2026.
If the cornice and wood are sound, relining a box gutter usually keeps the look of the house and fixes the problem at its source. Closing it off and hanging a gutter is simpler, and it's easier to clean and see, but it changes the eave. Inside a City Historic District, that change needs approval. Get a price for both, in writing.
- A box gutter is part of the roof and the cornice, not an add-on.
- Its failures are hidden, so inspect it from above.
- Fix the wood before relining.
- Call the Cultural Resources Office before you change one in a City Historic District.
Side by side
| Relined box gutter | New hanging gutter | |
|---|---|---|
| Look | Keeps the original cornice line | Adds a visible gutter to the eave |
| Failure | Leaks into cornice and wall, often unseen | Leaks outside the wall, usually visible |
| Cleaning | From the roof edge, with care | From a ladder |
| Skill | Sheet-metal or roofing specialist | Most gutter contractors |
| Old box | Repaired and kept | Closed off properly, or it keeps collecting water |
| Historic district | Usually an easier conversation, but ask | Needs approval and may be refused |
Three things to check first
- The wood. Rotten decking and cornice boards must be repaired before any lining. Ask how much they expect to find.
- The fall and outlet. Many old troughs have sagged, so new lining alone won't drain. Ask how they'll restore the slope.
- The roof above. If the shingles or slate at the eave are finished, plan the two jobs together, so the joint is done once.
If you close it off
Don't just cover it. A closed-off box gutter needs a proper roof surface over it that carries water to the new gutter, and the old outlet needs dealing with. A careless cover can trap water in the cornice, which is the very thing you were trying to stop. Ask to see the detail in writing.
Asphalt coatings
Old tar on a metal lining is a sign of earlier leak chasing. The National Park Service warns against asphalt compounds on metal gutters, because they can make deterioration worse, and suggests fiberglass tape and epoxy for patching holes instead. For a modest failure, a patch may buy time while you plan.
Next step
Take photos from an upper window, if you safely can. Note any stains on the cornice and the top of the wall. Then see the box gutter repair page, or say on the form that you have one so your request reaches someone suitable.
Questions
Can I just put a gutter under my box gutter?
You can, but it leaves the leak in place if the box gutter is what's failing. Water still gets into the cornice. Find out what's wrong up top first.
What's the best lining material?
It depends on the roof, budget and rules. Painted terne, copper and modern membranes are all used. Ask what the contractor recommends, why, and how long they've used it.
How often should a box gutter be checked?
At least at each cleaning, so twice a year. You can't see it from the ground, so a yearly look from above matters more here than with a hanging gutter.
Is a hanging gutter ever the right call?
Yes, on a house whose cornice is too far gone or too costly to restore, where the rules allow it. It's easier to see and to maintain. It just changes how the eave looks.
Sources
- NPS Preservation Brief 47: Maintaining the Exterior
- City of St. Louis: when a residential building permit is needed
Related
- Box Gutter Repair
- Half-Round & Copper Gutters
- Fascia & Soffit Repair
- Do you need a permit for gutters in St. Louis?
- Gutters on old St. Louis brick homes
- Ice dams and freeze and thaw: what St. Louis winters do to gutters
General information for St. Louis-area homeowners. Not a quote, and not engineering, legal or insurance advice.