Depending on the type and material that you purchase, installation costs for an eavestrough can vary anywhere to a couple hundred of dollars to a couple of thousand. But before we get into the ins and outs of this process, let’s first learn a little bit more about eavestroughs.
What Is an Eavestrough?
More commonly referred to as gutters, these systems collect water around the edge of the house’s roof. The water is then transferred to a downspout, where it safely falls to the ground. These systems are important in preventing rainwater from damaging your property.
Hamilton Eavestrough and Siding Installers, which does eavestrough installation in Hamilton, explains that these systems help control water. Without them, water would merely fall to the ground around the perimeter of the house and cause a deep divot. This pseudo-moat can cause water to collect near the foundation of the house, which can lead to all sorts of problems.
What Other Things Are Associated with Eavestroughs?
Some common parts of an eavestrough system include things like soffit and fascia, along with the different types of construction material. Gutter systems come in aluminum, vinyl, copper, and steel.
Aluminum is the most popular, as it tough yet inexpensive. Vinyl can also be used, but is typically a little less durable than metal counterparts. Copper and steel are also available to order, but their increased durability comes at a higher price.
Soffit is the material that runs along the bottom of your roof. It is often connected to the eavestrough and provides ventilation for your roof. These can have a certain beauty to them, but in practical terms they help protect your rafters from the elements.
Fascia is the piece of metal that is placed between the soffit and the upper portion of the roof. This horizontal piece is used to protect the edge of the roof, but it can also make your house look better if it is installed correctly.
What Types of Gutters Are There?
Roughly, there are two types of eavestroughs. Normal gutters come in sections and are installed one piece at a time. Seamless gutters, on the other hand, are all one piece and require more in terms of labor.
Seamless gutters have multiple advantages over their more traditional cousins. For one, they have no weak points in their construction, so they are often more durable as a result. They also are notable for requireing less maintenance.
What Are the Costs of Installing Eavestroughs?
Installation costs can vary dramatically. Aluminum and galvanized gutters are typically around $4 to $9 per linear foot, while vinyl is considered easier to install and therefore only costs $3 to $5 per linear foot. There are additional fees for other enhancements on top of this.
Installing the gutters is just one service companies offer, with many also doing other skills related to the work. There are also costs to add a gutter drainage system, gutter guards, gutter removal and disposal, along with professional cleaning services.
The costs for these services vary depending on what company you go with and your location, but a gutter drainage system install is around $160, while guards can be a pricey $3600, removal and disposal another $100, and a cleaning service around $90.
How Do I Clean My Gutters?
There are a few ways to clean eavestroughs, the first being by hand. All you need for this method is some gloves for your hands, a ladder to climb up to the gutter, and a bucket to hold all the muck that you scoop out.
Another method is to use a blower with a special attachment to narrow the stream of air flow, firing the leaves out of the trough at a high velocity. You can also use a pressure washer for a similar method, which has been shown to actually be more effective, albeit messier.
One newer option is using a gutter cleaning robot. These machines attach themselves to the inside of the gutter and clean them periodically for you. Newer models have become less bulky and can cost a few hundred dollars. It’s still recommended to at least check your eavestrough for problems from time to time though.
Eavestroughs, also called gutters, have a couple different styles and are constructed from different materials. Depending on what you are getting and the size of your home, the installation cost can vary considerably.