Questions to ask before you hire a gutter contractor

Most people hire a gutter company once every twenty years, so there is no reason you would know what to ask. Here are the questions that actually separate a good quote from a bad one, and what a straight answer sounds like.

Ask all of these before you sign anything. A contractor worth having will answer every one without hesitating, because they have answered them before.

How many feet of gutter does my house need?

They should give you a number, and that number should come from measuring rather than from looking. Be wary of a price over the phone. Nobody can know how many feet your roof needs from your address, so a phone price is either a guess that will change or a number padded enough to be safe.

Is it seamless or sectional, and what size?

Seamless gutter is formed on site to the length of each side, so the only joints are at corners and outlets. Sectional comes in fixed lengths joined along the run, which is more places a leak can start. Most houses take 5 inch; 6 inch is worth it on a large or steep roof. If they cannot tell you which you are getting, they do not have a plan for your house.

What happens if the fascia is rotten underneath?

This is the question that separates the careful from the rest. Gutters hang off the fascia board, and you cannot see the condition of that board until the old gutter comes off. A good quote says in writing what happens if rot is found, with a rate for the repair. A quote that stays silent on it is a quote that will change on the day.

Is removing and disposing of the old gutters included?

It usually is, and it is an easy thing to leave out of a headline number to make it look lower. Get it in writing.

How many downspouts, and where is the water going?

Most houses need four to six. Where the water lands matters more than the gutter itself. A gutter that empties against the foundation has solved nothing, so ask what happens at the bottom of each downspout.

Are you licensed and insured, and can I see it?

Ask for the certificate, not a yes. If a worker is hurt on your property and the contractor is not carrying insurance, that can become your problem. A real contractor sends it without being chased.

What is the warranty, on the work as well as the materials?

These are two different things and people conflate them. The aluminum carries a manufacturer warranty regardless of who fits it. What you actually want to know is how long they stand behind their own workmanship, because almost every gutter failure is an installation problem rather than a material one.

Can I see photos of jobs you have finished near me?

Not a gallery of stock images. Actual houses, ideally in your area. Anyone who has been doing this a while has a phone full of them.

What is the deposit, and when is the balance due?

Something in the region of half up front and half on completion is normal for this trade. Be careful of anyone asking for the full amount before they start.

Three answers that should make you pause

• "We can do it today for cash." Pressure and a discount for speed usually means they want the job before you compare it
• "Prices vary, we would need to see it" and then no visit. A measure is free and takes twenty minutes. Not offering one is telling
• A quote with one line and one number on it. You cannot compare that against anything, which is frequently the point

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For reference while you compare quotes, we publish what gutters actually cost in the Dayton area, including what a fair price per foot looks like.

If you want a quote from us, ask for one here or call 937-641-9225, 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday. We measure before quoting, we put it in writing, and the quote is free.