Gutter replacement service in Jackson, MI
Replacing gutters means taking the whole old system down, fixing whatever the old gutters damaged behind them, and hanging a new system sized for the roof. On Jackson's older houses, the part behind the gutter is often the bigger story, so our gutter replacement service handles all 3 in one job.
Replace rather than repair when leaks show up at several joints, the gutters are rusting through or cracking, more than one run sags, or the gutters overflow even when they're clean. A repair makes sense when the problem is one corner, one loose section or one damaged piece on an otherwise sound system.
Signs your gutters are past repair
- Rust lines and pinholes along the bottom of steel gutters. Once rust shows on the outside, the inside is worse.
- Cracked or warped vinyl, which turns brittle in Michigan cold and splits at the joints.
- Leaks at 3 or more seams, or drips you've already sealed once and that came back.
- Runs that sag between hangers so water pools in the middle and freezes there in winter.
- Gutters pulling off the fascia because the spikes have worked loose or the wood won't hold a fastener.
- Peeling paint, mildew streaks or soft wood on the fascia and soffit behind the gutter.
- Overflow from clean gutters during heavy rain, which means the system is too small for the roof.
Why replacement on an older Jackson home often includes fascia repair
Jackson has some of the oldest housing in Michigan. The median house in the city was built around 1938, and more than half predate 1940.
On houses that age, the gutters you see today are rarely the first set. Many have been replaced or patched several times, and decades of small leaks and overflow have soaked the fascia board and sometimes the ends of the rafters behind it.
That damage is usually hidden until the old gutter comes off. Here's what we commonly find on older homes, and what it means for the job:
- Soft or rotted fascia boards. The rotted section is cut out and replaced, then wrapped or painted, before the new gutter is hung. New hangers can't hold in rotten wood.
- Built-in box gutters. Some older houses have gutters built into the roof edge and lined with metal. When the lining fails, water goes straight into the cornice. The options are relining the box gutter or closing it in and hanging a new gutter on the face, which changes the look of the trim.
- No drip edge. Without a strip of metal at the roof edge, water runs behind the gutter. Adding drip edge or gutter apron is a small part of the job that solves a recurring problem.
Fascia work is the one thing that can change the price after the old gutters are down. If we find rot that wasn't visible during the estimate, we show it to you and price it before going further.
How our gutter replacement service works
- Inspection and measurement of every run, the fascia, the roof edge and where the current downspouts drain.
- Tear-off. Old gutters, spikes, ferrules and straps come down. Removing old fasteners and filling the holes keeps water from following them into the wood.
- Fascia and roof-edge repair where needed, including drip edge if it's missing.
- New seamless gutters formed to length and hung on hidden hangers with proper pitch. See seamless gutter installation for sizing details.
- Downspouts relocated or added where the old layout drained too close to the foundation or onto a walkway.
- Water test and haul-away of the old material.
What affects the cost of gutter replacement
- Length of gutter and downspout on the house.
- What's coming off. Hanging gutters come down quickly. Box gutters and heavy old steel take more labor.
- How much fascia, soffit or rafter-tail repair is needed once the old gutters are removed.
- Upgrading from 5 to 6 inch gutters or from 2x3 to 3x4 inch downspouts.
- Height of the house and access around porches, additions and landscaping.
- Historic district review, if your home is in one, which can affect the profile or material chosen.
We don't quote by phone, because the condition of the fascia is the biggest unknown. The estimate is free and written.
When old gutters become an urgent problem
Call soon if a section has come away from the house and is hanging, if water is entering the basement during each rain because the old system overflows, or if you see water stains on ceilings near exterior walls on the top floor. That last one can mean water is running behind the gutter into the wall. Ahead of winter, a gutter that's already sagging is worth replacing before it fills with ice.
Gutter replacement service questions
Should I replace gutters before or after a new roof?
Ideally at the same time or just after. Roofers often need to remove or loosen gutters to install drip edge, and new gutters hung after the roof sit correctly under the new edge. If your gutters are newer and in good shape, they can usually be reused.
Can you match the look of gutters on an older or historic home?
Half-round gutters and round downspouts are available for homes where the profile matters. In the Under the Oaks historic district, exterior changes need Historic District Commission approval before work starts, so the gutter style may be part of that review.
How long do gutters last in Michigan?
Seamless aluminum gutters that are sized, pitched and hung correctly commonly last 20 years or more. Vinyl gutters tend to crack sooner in cold weather, and galvanized steel lasts until the coating wears and the seams start to rust.
What happens to my old gutters?
They're removed and hauled away as part of the job, along with old spikes, straps and cut-offs.
Replacement is one part of our Jackson gutter installation work. If you aren't sure whether your system needs replacing or just a repair, a free look will tell you.