Reviewed November 3, 2026. Gutter Installation St. Louis is a referral service; independent contractors do the work.
Replace rather than repair when leaks are spread along the run, the metal has rusted through, the trough sags in several places, or the fascia behind has rotted. One bad joint or a loose hanger is usually a repair. On older houses, the old gutter often hides soft wood or loose masonry, so ask how surprises will be priced before work starts.
- Good signs for repair
- One leaking joint, a few loose hangers
- Good signs for replacing
- Rust-through, repeated sag, rot behind, many patches
- Watch for
- Hidden fascia rot, old sewer tie-ins
- Ask for
- Removal, haul-off and unit prices for extra trim, in writing
Signs a system is finished
- Rust holes or flaking inside old steel troughs.
- Sagging that returns soon after re-hanging, because the wood behind no longer holds.
- Many layers of old patch. The National Park Service warns against asphalt patch compounds on metal gutters, since the acids can make things worse (NPS Brief 47).
- Water stains on the brick or a damp wall that follows the run.
- Standing water in sections, which often means the fall has been lost.
What removal can uncover
The old gutter has often been hiding things for decades, and on older St. Louis housing that can include soft fascia, rotted rafter tails, loose brick at the top course, or an older box gutter that was covered over rather than fixed. Ask for a unit price for replacing trim, so a surprise is a known number and not a negotiation with a ladder already up.
Don't reuse the old layout without thinking
Replacement is the moment to fix layout mistakes. Additions may have changed how the roof drains. A valley may dump into a corner with one small outlet. A downspout may end at a walkway that ices over in winter. And an old pipe into the ground may be the kind of connection the sewer district wants removed. Ask the contractor to look at the system as if there were no gutter there at all.
Historic houses
In a City Historic District, replacement needs approval from the Cultural Resources Office even though the Building Code doesn't require a permit. Call the office before you pick a profile. Details are in the permit guide.
Replace now or wait?
If water is getting into trim or masonry, waiting costs more. The National Park Service says that repointing without first fixing the source, such as leaking gutters, is wasted time and money (NPS Brief 2). If the problem is only appearance, you have time to compare quotes properly.
What to ask the contractor
- Repair or replace, and why?Ask for the honest case for each, and a price for both if they're close.
- What's in the removal price?Taking down, hauling away and disposal should be a written line.
- How are surprises priced?Ask for a unit price per foot for fascia or trim replacement.
- Will the layout change?Ask if more downspouts or larger ones would help, and where they'd go.
Replacement around St. Louis
See what's different about each place.
City of St. Louis
- Soulard
- Lafayette Square
- Benton Park
- Tower Grove South
- Shaw
- Central West End
- The Hill
- Dogtown
- St. Louis Hills
- Carondelet
St. Louis County
- Clayton
- University City
- Webster Groves
- Kirkwood
- Maplewood
- Ladue
- Creve Coeur
- Chesterfield
- Ballwin
- Affton
- Oakville
- Florissant
St. Charles County
Replacement: questions
How long should gutters last?
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.
Can new gutters use the old hanger holes?
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.
Should gutters be replaced with a new roof?
Doing both together can make sense, since the drip edge and gutter meet at the same spot. Ask each trade who is responsible for that joint, and get it in writing.
Will my insurance pay for replacement?
Only your insurer can say. Under Missouri law a contractor may not offer to rebate your deductible or represent you on a claim. See storm damage and claims.
Further reading
- What do new gutters cost in St. Louis, and how do you read a quote?
- Do you need a permit for gutters in St. Louis?
- Storm-damaged gutters in Missouri: insurance, contractors and your rights
- Downspouts and MSD: can yours stay connected to the sewer?
Related work
- Gutter Repair: Leaking joints, sagging runs and downspouts pulling off the wall, and how to tell a small fix from a warning sign.
- Gutter Installation: New gutters and downspouts for brick city houses, postwar ranches and newer subdivisions, planned around freeze and thaw and heavy spring rain.
- Fascia & Soffit Repair: The boards a gutter hangs on. If they're soft, a new gutter won't stay up for long.