Seamless vs. DIY seam gutters?

Question

Asked a question before about this, but I think I got a lot of seamless gutter contractors answering :( I'm in FL and am looking for a LOW cost gutter solution on my average size house. It's new and around 2100 sq ft. I only have to put up gutters on about three sides. It seems that if I do this myself I could get as low as $2 per foot in material costs including hardware. Seamless costs go from $5 and up. Anyone have any experience doing it both ways? Thanks!

Answer 1

In FL, if you don't have a second story, you can probably do it yourself okay.  In the states where there is wildly varying temperatures, a leak will develop at the seams, but in FL you may not have that problem.  Of course, you need to consider if you have enough ladders and help to get the gutters up okay.  Remember to slope the gutter towards the downspout and seal the joints.  You can use the clips which makes it easier to do by yourself, but I don't like the dirt lines where the clips are myself.  Some home improvement stores have 20 foot lengths of guttering and since it is so light, I have  hauled it in an eight foot pick up bed, I just ran, a string to the outer end of the gutter, taped it to the gutter and tied the other ends of it to the upper part of the bed and used a red flag.  Good luck and be very careful!

Answer 2

  I believe you have answered your own question. By installing the gutters yourself you will save on labor . A seamless gutter is nice but not necessary. And you can't blame the tradesman because he wants to make a living and also has equipment expenses.

Answer 3

DIY is the way to go for cost savings, particularly because you have the skills. Now all you have to do is choose the gutters. According to This Old House general contractor Tom Silva, galvanized steel is a little stronger than aluminum but may rust over 5 to 10 years as the paint wears. Gutters that are not kept clean will have a shorter life because rust will start where raw steel is exposed (at a seam, corner, or where a hole was drilled to let water exit) unless they are primed and sealed. Aluminum with a baked-on finished wears better than the steel.  The costs will depend on what's available in your area.

Here's a step-by-step guide to installing gutters:

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/how-to/i...