The most common reasons for premature gutter failure are due to material selection, incorrect installation methods, and deferred maintenance and cleaning.

Materials Selection

Gutter Material

Many gutter installers purchase steel gutter coil as it allows them to offer their customers a lower cost product. The primary reason they are using steel material is that for many installers their primary source of business is the new construction market and their customers are home builders and remodelers. Due to the competitive nature of that industry they need to be highly competitive on their prices or they will not get the business. When it comes to gutters the builder cares more about how the gutter looks, functions, and what the price is, not how long it will last.

Steel material offers a better price and It has good strength, but the flip side is that steel will rust or corrode and is almost three times heavier than aluminum. It works for the builder/remodeler, but in the long run is not in the best interest of the homeowner. In a few years down the road the homeowner will be dealing with replacement, and if the builder would have invested 10-15% more in quality materials the outcome would be completely different.

Gutter Spikes

Another way for the gutter installer to lower the price of gutters is by using steel spikes to affix the gutters to the home. It is a common practice to use this method. The problem with gutter spikes is that they work loose within 1-5 years due to expansion and contraction as the nail has very little holding power. In addition the spikes are generally placed every 4 feet which is not enough to handle the weight of the gutter and the weight of water and debris that gets in the gutter.

It is not uncommon to see gutters being replaced that are only 5-8 years old due to using steel gutter materials and spikes provided by the original installer.

Incorrect Installation Methods

The most common installation issues are the use of Spikes to affix gutters, and improper ramping of gutters to evacuate water.  Spikes eventually fail as they loosen over time and generally many contractors only use one spike for every 4ft of gutter. Once one gutter spike loosens then it starts a chain reaction of neighboring spikes which creates a weak link in the system. If loose spikes are not fixed then gutter damage can occur, many times it can deform the gutter beyond repair and require replacement.  Improper ramping is a common mistake among gutter installers, and unless they check their work by water testing for proper flow it will create water damage and corrosion issues down the road. We have replaced steel gutters that were installed by another contractor that were less than 6 years old  because they did not ramp the gutters properly. The water could not evacuate so it was left to sit in the gutter along with leaves and debris. Eventually the debris becomes acidic and starts to eat away at the steel gutter material and the end result was total gutter failure, there were holes the size of a quarter in the bottom all along where the water had been collecting. Imagine the delight of the homeowner when they found out that it was due to faulty installation.

Deferred Maintenance

Gutters can have their lifespan cut by up to 70% if they are not kept clean of debris which can cause gutter clogs. Deferred maintenance on gutter cleanings can greatly reduce the life of your gutters here are some of the common problems associated with dirty gutters:

Gutter Clogs

If gutters are clogged and full to the top they create additional weight that results in stress on the miters, end caps, and spikes. Think of it this way:

1-Gallon of Water Weighs 8.3 Ibs.   so it becomes easy to calculate the weight of water as it relates to gutter weight when full

5″ Gutters – .6234 gal. per ft. = 5.21Ibs. per foot of gutter

6″ Gutters – .92 gal. per ft. = 7.6 lbs. per running ft. of gutter.

If you have a 5″ gutter that is 50ft long and it is full of water the total weight of the water inside the gutter is 260.5 lbs plus the weight of the gutter itself.

As you can see if the gutter is only held on by a Spike placed every 4ft it will not be enough to hold that amount of weight. The additional weight begins to take its toll on the holding power of the spike and it begins to loosen. As each spike loses its hold the next one in line takes the stress until about 3-4 spikes come loose then the gutter begins to roll forward and begins to twist. Once too many spikes come loose the weight of the gutter provides too much leverage and the gutter falls to the ground. Many times once this happens the gutter is deformed and is beyond repair. This results in having to replace the gutter altogether.

Stress & Strain on Seams

Excess weight of the water can cause gutters to leak at the end caps and corner miters due to increased pressure which can cause considerable damage if not fixed in time.

Corrosion or Rust 

If gutters are not properly cleaned the gutter debris will begin to break down. The water becomes acidic and the gutter material begins to corrode and if left in this state can cause permanent damage to the material and cause premature replacement.

The Solution?

The best way to avoid these problems is to make Aluminum your material of choice, also avoid gutter spikes altogether and choose “Hidden Hangers” with screws placed every 2 feet to provide optimal gutter holding power. Also select a contractor who provides these choices and then combines them with a written installation warranty of at least 5 years. Perhaps your initial cost for the gutters will be slightly more, but in the long run it will save you hundreds of dollars. Whether you clean the gutters yourself or have them cleaned keep on top of the debris that collects in your gutters. Another great way to eliminate gutter cleaning is to purchase quality gutter covers or guards along with your gutters. We will provide you with guidance on selecting the right gutter cover for your home in future articles.