All you need to know about a Gutter replacement: A quick guide on what to expect in your gutter replacement estimate.
There are two main factors to consider in a gutter installation estimate:
Your new gutter system and its installation
1. First of all, the materials. There is a variety of options depending on your needs and tastes. From aluminum to Steel, Copper, or Zinc. (Take a look at the profiles and colors we work!). However, it is not just the material itself what affects the pricing, its thickness can make a difference in the quality and cost as well.
- For the standard seamless aluminum gutters, with the standard thickness (0.027 gauge), the average cost goes from $4.5 to $8 per linear foot in the Seattle area. (Installation included)
- On the other extreme, an 18 oz. a copper gutter system can round $30 to $40 per linear foot. (Installation included)
- The materials costs include hangers, screws, pipe cleats for the downspouts, etc.
2. Along with the materials, come the labor costs, which are influenced by the type of work, in this case, by the fact that the gutter installers are, many times, risking their lives. That means that insurances and liability costs are higher compared to other sectors.
- For example, just LnI costs can rise to $5.5/hour per worker. And we need to add here workers compensation, truck insurances, car insurances, bonded with 2 million coverage, liability…
3. Additional costs to consider in the gutter estimate are transportation, tools, or permit fees.
4. Finally, the taxes need to be added, which will depend on the city where the house is located. The combined taxes information can be found in the government official site.
Your house and its influence on the cost of the new gutters
1. The number of linear feet of your house is a major factor in the final cost: the higher the number, the bigger is going to be the gutter cost. Most of the times, companies have a minimum charge that varies from one to another for those jobs that consist of small pieces of gutter.
2. Corners are usually an added cost in the estimate. The corners are hand-made and constitute the most difficult and time-consuming part of the job. The more corners you have, the higher the price.
3. The type of roof is a critical part of the execution of the job.
- It is not the same to install a gutter system in a composition roof, that is usually easier to walk (and not as slippery) than a wood metal roof.
- Furthermore, the roof pitch (measured 1 to 12 over 12), is also going to define whether that roof is walkable or not. Usually, a roof with a pitch over 8/12 is not walkable for gutter installation in composition roofs, and, in the case of metal roofs, over 6/12.
4. Whether the job includes removal and disposal of the existing gutters or not. If the gutter contractor removes and disposes of your gutters, there will be an additional cost that will depend on:
- The way your gutters are attached. For example, the most expensive removal will be in case the gutters are attached with spiral nails, due to the difficulty and the time it takes to do that part of the job. This usually happens in older gutters.
- The quantity of gutter and, whether the material is recyclable or not.
- The day the removal is done. If the removal is not performed on the same day of the job, it will probably have an additional cost.
5. Lastly, location and accessibility are another two factors that a gutter company will consider in the price of the gutter system installation. Meaning that the cost may increase if your house is difficult to access, maybe because it is a high house or it’s on a hill among other things.
We hope that this short explanation about the factors that influence the costs of a new gutter system helps you to understand better your estimate. And remember, if the price of one of the quotes you receive doesn’t sound right, probably it is not. Make sure your contractor has all the permits needed and is getting the materials from a legal source.
