Rainwater may be one of the biggest threats to your home. Your guttering system is there to help control rainwater and protect your home from damage.
Properly functioning gutters help prevent wood rot, siding staining and damage, foundation damage, and flooded basements by channeling rainwater away from your roof and home exterior.
Trying to DIY gutter installation is understandable. We all need to cut down on costs these days. However, it may turn out to cost us more than it saves us. Let’s see why.
1. The Importance of Properly Installed Gutters
The primary job for a gutter system is to control rainwater, with the end result of protecting your home from the damaging effects of rainwater.
Gutters that don’t work properly may lead to some of the most expensive repairs a home will ever need (like foundation damage, flooded basements, etc.). Not thousands, but tens of thousands.
In Kansas, these are very real problems, with a climate that goes from dry to downpour and back again.
All it takes is making one large mistake in your installation, and one of these costs, or a multiple of them, becomes your reality. Do you know, for example, that you can both under- and overslope a gutter, leading to water overflow? Did you know that there is a formula for how large of downspout you need for so many square feet of roof? Of course you don’t. Why would you?
Solution? Hire a gutter installation company with a reputation for precision and follow-up care for their customers. Some things you DIY. Some things you probably shouldn’t.
2. Common Problems with DIY Gutter Installation
For handy family members, installing a gutter at home might seem simple and easy, but it might end up being more of a headache.
DIY projects can be rewarding, but gutter installation is one job where mistakes are both common and costly.
Typical problems that can be encountered with DIY:
Lack of specialized tools: Specialized tools for measurements, cuts, and mounting are normally required when installing a gutter system, which homeowners do not usually have available.
Improper sloping: A slope of about ¼ inch every 10 feet is needed for proper drainage, which usually would require a professional hand. Water will pool, backflow, and overflow either way if the slope is not correct.
Not sealing correctly: Not using the proper sealant for seams, or not putting on the seams correctly.
Safety risk: There is a real safety risk involved when getting on ladders or even your roof.
Downstream problems: Premature wear and tear can occur, reducing the lifespan of the gutter, when even small mistakes are made during installation.
It doesn’t take much for these DIY errors to cost you more than the professional installation..
3. Advantages of Professional Gutter Installation
There is a long list of benefits to hiring a professional gutter installation team:
Correct installation: To properly cut the gutter sections, seal the joints, calculate the correct slope, and securely fasten the gutters with enough brackets all require precision and expertise, which trained technicians should have.
Quality materials last longer: Stores that sell gutters for DIY installation might not provide the best quality; however, if you’ve done your research and chosen well, a professional installation should be done with the highest quality materials. These will simply last longer.
A warranty: Any company worth its salt will give you a warranty with your gutters. If they don’t offer a one-year installation warranty and a twenty-year manufacturer’s warranty, look elsewhere. But a warranty will ensure you have a solution if any issues arise and gives peace of mind.
Homeowners trust Gutter Cover KC, which offers a complete solution that suits their needs and that can better integrate with other systems.
4. How Professional Gutter Covers Add Extra Protection?
There is another important layer of protection to a standard gutter that should be considered; it’s a gutter cover or gutter guard.
Gutter covers offer a number of benefits.
They prevent leaves, debris, and twigs from clogging your gutter.
These covers keep the water flow consistent, ensuring the gutter functions as designed.
No one will have to climb a ladder multiple times a year to clean out the gutter, which saves you time and reduces risk.
When a storm suddenly arrives, your gutter will be storm-ready because a gutter cover ensures the flow will not be blocked.
Professional gutter cover replacement in Kansas City is the best option to maximize the performance of your gutter in extreme weather conditions.
5. Cost Comparison: DIY vs. Professional Installation
DIY gutter installations might seem like the cheapest option available until downstream issues finally catch up. Whether it’s improperly controlled rainwater or falling from your ladder while trying to install gutters yourself, these costs will very quickly surpass the expense of hiring a professional.
In addition to this, there is the cost of your time. Both for the initial install and the upkeep required if mistakes are made.
6. Secondary Benefits of Choosing Professional Installation
There are other advantages to a professional gutter installation that go beyond functional performance and durability.
We can all agree that with a professional installation, apart from the function of the gutter, the house exterior will also improve.
A properly installed gutter system helps a home stay healthy. A healthy home ages better and looks better.
Conclusion
Is DIYing your guttering system going to save you money in the long run? It’s doubtful. For all the reasons discussed above.
DIY might cause improper drainage, water damage, and pose safety risks.
When you have your gutter professionally installed by a reputable company, it ensures long-term performance, high-quality materials, and correct installation.
Investing in an expert gutter installation is the best choice to safeguard your home from water damage, to reduce maintenance, and to give it a beautiful new look.
Gutter Cover KC – Advantage Gutter Guard
Phone: (816) 312-4300
1021 Northeast Jib Court, Suite D
GMB Profile: Gutter Cover KC – Advantage Gutter Guard
Lee’s Summit, MO 64064
USA
