The poet and playwright Oscar Wilde once said, “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.” He was speaking metaphorically of course and was likely referring to a different type of gutter than those on your roof, but his words still hold weight regardless. Although it has the benefit of bringing rainbows, left unchecked, rain can do damage to your home and its foundation. Hence the need for gutters. Gutters collect rainwater off of your home’s roof and transport it through a series of downspouts safely away from the foundation of your home. Using gutters is a wise choice, but there are several factors that go into how much it can cost. The good news is that you do have a variety of options.
Material
There are four main types of materials used for gutters and their accompanying downspouts: copper, aluminum, galvanized steel and vinyl. They all have their various benefits and drawbacks. For example, copper is the most durable material, but is also the most expensive. Galvanized steel is the heaviest and the strongest, but, because it is made of steel, it is prone to rust, which is less than ideal for gutters and downspouts.
Type
There are three main shapes of gutters, K-style, half round, and box. Box shaped gutters are mostly only used on commercial buildings, so for your home you will likely be choosing between K-style and half round. K-style gutters resemble an upside down “V” and are the most popular due to their strength and because they can handle vast amounts of water with ease. Half round gutters are exactly what they sound like, they resemble a cylinder with its top half chopped off. They are more popular for use on older homes and cost a bit more than K-style.
Length
While there are other factors that go into the prices of gutters, the most important factor is the length or amount of gutter that you will need. To get this figure, you should use a measuring tape and be sure to write down the distances between each point where you will need a gutter. Don’t forget to add any additional gutters like on the porch or on the upper levels of your home, as those measurements will count toward your total.
Calculate Your Approximate Total for Gutter Cost
Once you have decided on your gutter material, type, and how much you need, you are now able to figure out an estimated cost for your project. Here are some rough estimates based on the length of gutter you’ll need and its respective material.
- Copper gutter – $20-$30 per linear foot installed
- Galvanized steel gutter – $14-$18 per linear foot installed
- Aluminum gutter $10-$14 per linear foot installed
- Vinyl gutter $8-$12 per linear foot installed
Now that you understand what factors go into pricing your gutter project, you’ll be able to make more of an informed decision and know how much gutters cost.