When you admire a beautiful home, you probably don’t notice the gutter system installed along the roofline, but that doesn’t mean it’s not essential. 

Gutters collect water that flows off the roof due to rain or snowmelt and usher it away from the house, and critically, away from its foundation.  If gutters aren’t functioning correctly, you have trouble. 

“Usually the first problem is, you start having erosion of soil right alongside your foundation.  And then secondly, water sitting there or getting next to the foundation and seeping inside your basement.  And when that happens, it can be very costly,” Larry Zook, owner of Kalona Gutters, explains.  “So, gutters are very important for the longevity of your home.  And keeping them functioning properly is important.”

Zook has become an expert on gutters since he began transitioning his family power-washing business into a gutter installation business about seven years ago.  His daughter runs the office, his three sons and nephew install and maintain gutters, and Zook provides estimates, information, and recommendations to clients.

Do I need new gutters?

The first decision a homeowner might need to make is whether they need to replace their gutters. 

“Commonly they have some kind of problem.  Sometimes it’s very visible, like, ‘Oh, there’s water pouring over the side of my gutter.  That’s not supposed to happen.  Can you please come and tell me what’s wrong?’” Zook says.  “Or maybe it got damaged, got hit by a limb in a storm, or by a tree.  Snow and ice damage is fairly common.”

Another reason gutters may need to be replaced is that they are no longer fastened tightly to the house.  Decades ago, gutters were nailed into place, whereas today, screws keep gutters securely attached.

“The major difference is that a nail tends to work its way out or loosen because of expansion and contraction, and it happens through the seasons.  So, an older style gutter with the nails tends to start having the nails work loose, and in time it can get severe enough that they actually just give way and the gutter falls down,” Zook explains.  “When that happens in multiple spots, I usually tell them it’s time to get it replaced.”

Professional, installation, or DIY?

If a homeowner determines that new gutters are necessary, they might pause to consider whether to have them professionally installed or to do the work themselves. 

Professional installation comes with many advantages: Kalona Gutters brings a spool of material, usually aluminum, to the job site.  A machine rolls out the material to the needed length and forms it into the proper shape.  The result is a seamless gutter along the length of the home. 

The DIY alternative would involve purchasing several lengths of stock gutter from a home improvement store, which would then need to be attached in sections. 

“Every time you have a joint where you have caulk, that is subject to failure eventually with age,” Zook notes.

Kalona Gutters also removes old gutters and recycles the material, so disposal is not a concern for the homeowner.  In addition, smaller, simpler new homes may have their gutters installed in as little as one day.

What color should I choose?

Although 20-30% of the gutters they install are white, Zook says, a palette of about 25 colors is available for homeowners to choose from.  Black and Clay, a neutral gray, are also very common choices.  Red is often used on agricultural buildings; Royal Brown is a frequent choice for replacement gutters on 30-40 year-old homes.

Zook recommends the gutters be matched with the soffit and fascia, which are usually both the same color.  The fascia is the vertical face that the gutter attaches to along the edge of the roof, and the soffit is the underside of the eaves that overhang the home.  The soffit and fascia have already been coordinated with the roof and siding colors in most cases.

Do I need gutter guards?

The final important choice a homeowner will have to make regarding gutters is whether to attach guards over the open top of the gutters.  Gutter guards are mesh screens that keep debris like seeds, nuts, and leaves out of the gutters.  If no guards are attached, and frequently cleaning is not done, the gutters will clog with debris and water will no longer be able to flow through properly.

The issue of cleaning gutters is a tricky one.  Zook says all gutters will require maintenance, even those with guards.  But a gutter guards can cut down cleaning to once a year, rather than the three times a year needed without them.

“There are at least three events in a year,” Zook explains.  “In the spring, you tend to have a lot of seeds, like the maple helicopters, and all the pollens.  During the summer, you have storms that throw leaves onto your roof from a thunderstorm, and you have green leaves then wash into your gutters.  And in the fall, you have the leaf drop and the nuts.  So, unless you’re getting up there about three times a year, you’re probably not going to keep them flowing.”

Zook recommends choosing a gutter guard that will be effective given the type of trees in the home’s vicinity.  A basic guard will work fine if only deciduous trees like maple and ash are in the area.  A finer mesh, like window screen, will keep out more debris; the premium stainless-steel mesh is recommended for areas with pine and spruce needles.

What time of year is best for gutter replacement?

Kalona Gutters installs gutters in spring, summer, and fall.  They currently have a lead time of 4-5 weeks for a project.  They also offer a gutter cleaning service, usually in the fall after the leaf drop.  For more information, contact Kalona Gutters at (319) 430-1493.