Directing the rain and water away from your home, your gutters have an important job. If you notice signs that something may be wrong, such as rust, pulling away from the house, sagging, or water running over the back end of the gutters, it’s time to start think of gutter repair or gutter replacement. Depending on what type of gutters you currently have installed, and what the issue is, one of these options may be the better choice for you.

Gutter Repair

Sometimes the issue with your gutters is actually pretty small, and is something that can be repaired in a timely manner. For example, if the problem you notice is your gutters sagging, this is not the gutters themselves, but their posts that join them to the house. This is a quick and fairly inexpensive repair.

Other times, the gutters may be warping or bending slightly or they may be rusting in only one section. These sections can be replaced to repair the gutters at a much lower cost than a complete gutter replacement.

In fact, it’s estimated that gutter repair costs about 60% of what a full gutter replacement would be. So if the issues are fairly minor, or if they are the type of problems that won’t recur on a regular basis, gutter repair is often the best choice financially.

Gutter Replacement

Despite the savings that guttering repair can bring you, many homeowners still choose to go with a full gutter replacement. Why? Many older gutters are made of galvanized steel, which can begin to rust, discolor, and deteriorate over time. Newer gutters are typically made of aluminum, which when well maintained, can last forever. Therefore, while your initial upfront costs may be more, investing in a full gutter replacement with a set of aluminum gutters will cut down on your repair bills over the lifetime of the house.

Aluminum gutters are not completely maintenance free, however, and will still occasionally have some issues, such as pulling away. So if you already have aluminum gutters installed and have noticed a few problems, chances are that only some minor repairs are warranted. Galvanized steel gutters, however, of any age and with any degree of problem, would more than likely benefit from a full replacement, both to keep them functioning better long term, and to help cut down on costs over the lifetime of your home.

Make the Right Choice

It may be impossible for you to tell simply by looking at them whether your need gutter repair or gutter replacement. In this case, your best bet is to call on a licensed professional to come out and take a look and make you a recommendation. You may be surprised to find that in most cases, gutter contractors usually opt for repair over replacement, unless rust and other problems are occurring that will mean continuous problems for the gutters.

Have your gutters cleaned and inspected at least annually to make sure they stay in good condition, and remember to get any repairs or replacements done in a timely way to ensure the good condition of your home.