How to tell your gutters are finished
- You've patched the same runs more than once and they're leaking again
- Several stretches won't hold their slope, even after re-hanging
- The metal is thin, dented, split or corroded, with holes at old low spots
- Clean gutters still overflow in an ordinary summer storm, a sign they or the downspouts are undersized
- Long stretches of fascia are rotting, so the gutters have to come down regardless
- A mix of old and new sections that no longer match or line up
If it's really one or two trouble spots, gutter repair is usually the cheaper answer.
Why seamless
Sectional gutters arrive in fixed lengths and are joined on the house, so a long run has several sealed joints waiting to fail. Seamless gutters are formed on site from a coil to the exact length of each run, so the only joints are at corners, end caps and outlets.
- Fewer leak points along the straight runs
- Made to measure for each section of roof edge
- A cleaner line across the front of the house
Aluminum is the standard material. Steel and copper cost more; copper and half-round profiles are sometimes chosen for older homes.
Sizing for Roswell rooflines and storms
Many homes here are two-story traditionals with large roof planes, and some have valleys that funnel water into one corner. Add Georgia's intense summer thunderstorms (the Atlanta area averages roughly 50 inches of rain a year, per NOAA's 1991–2020 normals) and gutter capacity becomes a real question, not an afterthought.
| 5-inch | 6-inch | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical use | Moderate roof areas and shorter runs | Large or steep roofs, long runs, valleys, heavy tree cover |
| Water capacity | Standard | Noticeably higher |
| Usual downspouts | 2×3-inch or 3×4-inch | 3×4-inch |
| Debris tolerance | Clogs sooner | Wider trough, clogs less easily |
| Relative cost | Lower | Somewhat higher per foot |
The right size depends on roof area, pitch and downspout layout. Ask the installer to explain their recommendation.
Downspouts do half the work
Upsizing the gutter won't help if the water can't get out. Larger downspouts, an added downspout on a long run, and discharge that sends water downhill away from the foundation are all part of a good replacement. See downspout cleaning and repair.
Historic-district homes
Older homes around Canton Street, Mimosa Boulevard and the other historic neighborhoods sometimes have half-round, box or copper gutters. If your home is in the city's historic district, a change in the gutters' design, material or appearance needs a Certificate of Appropriateness from the city, while ordinary like-for-like repair is generally exempt. Check with the City of Roswell first. Our historic Roswell homes page covers more.
What happens on installation day
- Measure and plan: each run, every corner, roof areas, valleys and downspout locations.
- Take down the old gutters, spikes and downspouts.
- Inspect the fascia while it's exposed and repair soft wood. See fascia and soffit repair.
- Form the new runs on site and hang them with hidden hangers at the right fall.
- Fit downspouts, elbows, straps and extensions, and reconnect any buried lines.
- Seal, water-test and haul away the old material.
Adding guards at the same time
If trees hang over the roof, installing guards with the new gutters can be efficient. It isn't automatically worth it, though. Read are gutter guards worth it? and our gutter guard guide first.
What affects the price
- Total footage and number of corners
- Profile and material: 6-inch over 5-inch; steel, copper or half-round over standard aluminum
- Downspouts: how many, and what size
- Height and access: stories, roof pitch, walkout elevations, decks below
- Fascia repairs found once the old gutters are off
- Add-ons such as guards or new buried drain lines
Replacement is usually priced per foot, so length, size and material drive most of the total. The cost guide explains more. For a free estimate on your home, call (678) 820‑6633.
Questions to put to installers
- Could any of my gutters be repaired instead?
- What gutter and downspout sizes do you recommend, and why?
- What thickness of aluminum, and which hangers at what spacing?
- How is fascia rot priced if you find it?
- Where will each downspout discharge, and is that far enough from the foundation?
- What does your workmanship warranty cover, and for how long? (Get it in writing.)
- For older homes: have you worked in the historic district before?
Talk to a local pro
Replacing gutters means working the whole roof edge at height, and getting size and slope right takes experience. Tell us about your home and we'll connect you with an experienced, qualified local professional for an estimate.