A true homeowner knows the importance and influence that their gutters have on their home. Shunned off to the side (literally and figuratively), rainwater systems are essential for securing your home, and if damaged or in need of replacement, it is imperative to do it sooner rather than later.

The one thing stopping homeowners is the fact that new gutters cost money. And homeowners, unless in desperate need, are always trying to save ways to spend on home maintenance and repairs. Well, gutters are not one of those things. If the opportunity presents itself, you should look towards replacing it, and this guide can help you understand how much it will cost you.

The Importance of Gutters

Firstly, it’s important to recognize why gutters are considered vital to your home’s protection. The main purpose of this element is to push rainwater (or water from melting snow) away from your house. The rainwater is collected in the gutters before it goes down the downspout, ending in the sewer.

Gutters help reduce the risk of water infiltrations and floods into your home, particularly the roof and the basement, by collecting and evacuating the water properly. Flooding water can lead to roof damage, such as leaks and possibly even a replacement, and your basement and foundations. This can lead to costly repairs, which can range in the thousands.

Installing new gutters can circumvent this problem, saving your money and protecting your house for years to come.

The Factors Affecting Cost

There are many factors that can affect the price of installing your new gutters. Let’s consider the most common ones below:

The Materials – The better the materials you choose, the more it will cost you, but the longer they’ll last. Choose from the likes of vinyl, aluminum, galvanized steel, stainless steel and copper.

The Size of the Gutter – The same logic applies to your roof as it does here. If you need more materials, it’s inevitably going to cost you more.

The Cost of Accessories – Your gutters aren’t complete without the likes of downspouts, splash blocks, gutter hangers, gutter guards, heat tape and flashing. All these are essential for your rainwater system to run smoothly. And before you think otherwise, consider that gutter guards help protect your gutters from debris buildup, saving more in the long run.

The Architectural Details – Specific elements on your roof or house can create obstacles that will have to be circumvented in order to install the gutters. It might cost you a tad more than expected.

The Cost of the Installation – You could do this project yourself, but you might end up making the situation worse or injuring yourself in the process. You should consider hiring a professional to do the job for you.

The Experience/Quality of the Labour Hire – Some roofing companies charge more than others because of the experience and workmanship. You can either hire the best or get the local handyman. We recommend the former.

Rainy-Day Emergency Funds – There should always be an expectation that something might go wrong during the project, whether that you need more materials or the roof could be damaged. It’s more important than to ensure you have excess funds in store in case of emergencies. Think 5 to 10% of your entire project cost.

What’s The Average Price?

As the above factors highlight, there can be a vast range of costs when it comes to installing new gutters into your home. Therefore, finding an exact price can be difficult, but our research has indicated the following:

• Home Advisor states that “Gutter installation costs between $586 and $1,548 for about 200 feet, or $1,067 on average. Vinyl gutters cost $3 to $5 per linear foot. Aluminum costs $6 to $12, steel $9 to $20, and copper $25 to $40 or more.”
• Forbes Advisor mentions that the average cost is $3,000, with the highest being $5,000 and the lowest cost being $1,000 for new gutters”.
• Home Serve offers similar numbers, saying that “The average cost to replace gutters comes to a total of $1,000-$1,800. However, a gutter installation can range from as low as $600 to as high as $5,000.”

The numbers from the research are roughly similar but are noticeably influenced by the various factors mentioned, such as installation and materials. It’s best that if you wish to replace your gutters, you speak to a professional roofing company, which give you a quote based on your project needs and requests.