Choosing a good gutter installer involves doing some homework upfront to avoid problems down the road. Take your time with this decision – good gutters properly installed can last 20-30 years.
Here is how we suggest you approach it:
- Start with proper licensing and insurance
- Verify they have liability insurance and workers’ compensation coverage – ask for certificates and confirm they’re current. This protects you if someone gets injured on your property or if there’s accidental damage to your home.
- Get multiple quotes
- Get quotes from at least three installers so you can compare pricing and approaches. Be wary of quotes that are dramatically lower than others, as this can signal cut corners or hidden costs. Make sure quotes are detailed and include materials, labor, cleanup, and any warranties.
- Check their experience and reputation.
- Look for companies that specialize in gutters rather than general handymen. Read online reviews on multiple platforms, but take extremely positive or negative reviews with a grain of salt. Ask for local references and actually call a few past customers to ask about their experience.
- Ask about the specifics
- What gauge aluminum do they use? How do they secure the gutters (hidden hangers are generally better than spikes)? What’s their process for ensuring proper pitch? How do they handle fascia damage if they discover it? A knowledgeable installer should answer these readily.
- Understand the warranty
- Get both workmanship and material warranties in writing. Good installers typically offer at least a few years warranty on their work, and materials often have manufacturer warranties of 20+ years.
- Look for warning signs:
- Pressure to decide immediately, requests for full payment upfront, no physical business address, or reluctance to provide references should all raise red flags.
