Vinyl Gutters

[N80]

When I built my cabin a few years ago I put up aluminum gutters, the sectional kind you get at Lowes etc. I wish someone had told me beforehand but apprarently these things don't work and mine are no exception. The leak at every seam. Its terrible. What a waste of my time and money!

In any case, after 3 years or so of putting up with them I decided to just go ahead a let a pro put some good seamless aluminum gutters up. Its a simple job, 38' across the front and 38' across the back, a downspout on each corner. No angles, no corners to go around. And we got one quote and I almost fell out. $600!!!!

There is no way on earth I'm spending $600 on that cabin.

Now I'm looking at vinyl guttering. I used it once before many years ago for a small section of screen porch and it worked fine but I only lived in that place a year or so, so I have no idea how it held up. The vinyl gutters have joints that join the sections of gutter and each joint has a rubber 'o-ring' type thing that the gutter snaps tightly into. The one I put up did not leak at all.

So what do you guys think? Any experience with this stuff? I don't think it is cheap either but I feel pretty sure I can get it done for far less than $600!

Now, I'll admit, I'm not too fond of the vinyl 'look' but it comes in dark brown and that's the color the cabin is stained so I think it will blend in just fine.

 

[tallyho8]

I would get another quote. That sounds like over twice the price it should be.

 

[AlanB]

What Tally said,

Here it was $2 a foot for 5" and $3 a foot for 6"

Only screwy part was I think it was an extra 3' for each 45 bend or something, you also had to add in the cost / length of the downspouts.

If you were not happy with the Alum sectional, you will be twice as unhappy with the vinyl (I took vinyl off my house)

I would shop around a bit, and just bite the bullet and buy the 6" seamless.

For me, it was the same $ if I bought it and the required attaching peices and installed it or if I had it done.

Also, make sure you get the good screw in hangers, the newer one's are the great.

 

[N80]

I probably will get another estimate. My wife talked to the guy and maybe he thought he could snow her. But he priced himself out of an easy job. I've seen these seamless gutter folks work. He could have done this cabin in 30 minutes.

Alan, what did you not like about the vinyl? My problem with the aluminum is that it leaks. Did your vinyl leak? A what points?

 

[Redbug]

I have never tried the vinyl, just used aluminum. Mine leaks, too. Even after recaulking. However, I have wondered how long vinyl would last. A gutter on a sun exposed roof line is one of the harshest environments I can think of. I know the plastic has got some UV inhibitors in it, but it would have to get brittle long before an aluminum one would need replacing. Am I wrong?

Alan, why did you take the vinyl off? (opps...just saw George's post about the time I posted)

 

[ultrarunner]

I've got just about every style and the Sectional Aluminum and Seamless Aluminum are working very well for over 15 years here in California... The Vinyl is the only style that hasn't worked well for me... Too much expansion in the hot CA sun and they get brittle over time...

I bought the heavy gauge Alcoa 31' lengths from my local supplier... He also told me to make sure I have a secure mechanical connection and only use Alcoa Aluminum Gutter sealer for the joints...

I've also had very good luck with solder Galvanized and Redwood Gutters...

It might be because it doesn't snow where I am?

Neighbors just put in all Copper$$$

 

[AlanB]

My vinyl gutters (on the house I bought) leaked like a seive at every joint. They also "drooped" for lack of a better term probably because of the heavy leaf load. The vinyl were less rigid then aluminum, seamless or jointed.

Plastic, without much structure, left in the sun, with many joints, will deform and leak in fairly short order in my opinion.

Oh, and at least with jointed aluminum, you had a chance (not very good but a chance) of getting some form of goopey putty to stick and seal it up. Very few things like to adhere to plastics.

Went and found a picture. Does not look as bad here as it did in person.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...75d1173661786-al-bs-house-rework-dscn1925.jpg

If you look at the gutter though you can see the little vertical lines that are the hanger / joint, each one leaked some degree.

 

[mjfox6]

My quote from 2.5 years ago (I'm scared to have someone quote it now) for seamless aluminum gutters.

140 feet in 5 sections (40', 40', 30', 20', 10') with 7 downspouts - $1400

I'd have gutters if the quote was for ONLY $600!

 

[Bird]

That $600 doesn't sound unusual to me. But the only time I ever had the seamless aluminum gutters installed was July 1997, so things have changed a bit in 11 years. I had one run of 52' with a downspout at each end and two shorter runs of about 16' each with one downspout each. So a total of 84' and 4 downspouts and I paid a total fo $474.11.

But I helped my brother install the vinyl gutters; 80' in one run with a downspout at each end and two shorter runs; perhaps 30' each with one downspout each and he never said anything about having any problem other than keeping the leaves out of them since his place was heavily wooded with mostly big oaks.

I also installed 16' of vinyl gutter and a downspout on my daughter's aluminum patio awning and 20 feet of vinyle gutter on my own aluminum patio awning about 4 years ago. I did learn that it contracts and expands more than I expected with temperature changes. But after I fixed that, no more problem, but as I said, it's only been 4 years.

 

[LMTC]

Bear in mind their material costs have undoubtedly risen like most metals. I tend to think that sounds a bit high, but I would expect at least $3/running foot for gutter or downspout, extras for each bend and connector, at a minimum. If the installation is a lengthy drive, unusually awkward to access or high, then more. Had you said $400, I wouldn't have blinked. $500 would have been at the top of the range I would expect.

Just called my brother who builds as many pole buildings as anyone in this area...he said most gutter installers are getting close to $5/foot for aluminum gutter or downspout, standard connectors (like the drop tube) are included. Based on that yours would be $380 with no complicating factors, such as needing new facia, pulling down old gutters, etc. Told me he could probably get one he uses a lot to do gutter for me (I need a 60' run on our building) for close to $4.

 

[themichelob]

Just had 60 feet of the seamless aluminum gutters and two downspouts installed for $270 including tax--snow falling off my roof this past winter took down the 25 year old set. Had it done by a little mom and pop (literally) outfit, and they did a fine job, including hauling off the old ones. Does the $600 include some kind of "gutter helmut" or cover by any chance? A couple of the estimates I got did, and that increased the cost considerably. I didn't opt for that. Shouldn't be that much, otherwise.
Regards, Mike

 

[N80]

His original quote was $400 then he called back about an hour later with $600. I was waffling on the $400. Told him to take a hike for $600. Of course I had my diplomatic liaison (aka wife) say it politely for me.

It is about a 40 minute drive, but he told us that was no big deal when he was at my house doing some other work.

I figure my footage at 126' including downspouts. At $3 a foot thats $378, at $4 thats $504 at $5 its $630. So he's right at $5. A little less if he's figuring the drive.....but we were going to feed his crew lunch.

So my options look like this:

1) Sectional aluminum.BTDT. Maybe I got the cheap stuff but I'm pretty sure it was Alcoa. But I did the job right, and followed the instructions. Each joint doesn't just leak, it pours. Re-caulked, still pours. The joining system is pure ignorance. Other than the post above, I've talked to half a dozen people who have had the same experience as mine and no one else who has had success. So that's totally out.

2) Seamless aluminum. I'll get another estimate local to my cabin. Of course that's relative since the nearest town than might have a gutter man is 15 miles away. But if $4-$5 is the actual going rate, its too rich for me.

3) Vinyl. I've done it before and it did not leak at all and it was in a pretty rainy area. After about 2 years it was holding up fine. I did put up extra hangers to prevent sagging. The company who makes it has a limited lifetime warranty and guaranteed 'weather performance'. Clearly that is probably marketing hype. But from what people are saying so far it seems like durability concerns are speculation....but it does seem like it would get brittle over time.

So here is what I'[m gonna do at this point:

I'll get another quote or two and if they are more reasonable I'll go for it.

I'll price out the vinyl. If its close to the the aluminum then I'll skip it too. If it looks a lot cheaper I'll probably take the route. Don't really see many other options.

 

[N80]

Just had 60 feet of the seamless aluminum gutters and two downspouts installed for $270 including tax--snow falling off my roof this past winter took down the 25 year old set. Had it done by a little mom and pop (literally) outfit, and they did a fine job, including hauling off the old ones. Does the $600 include some kind of "gutter helmut" or cover by any chance? A couple of the estimates I got did, and that increased the cost considerably. I didn't opt for that. Shouldn't be that much, otherwise.
Regards, Mike

Assuming your downspouts where around 10 feet each, that puts your price at roughly $3.40 a foot.

My quote was for standard gutter and downspouts. No leaf guard, no helmets, etc.

I think maybe this guy didn't want the job. The housing market hasn't tanked around here like in other places so maybe he's got enough work to be fooling with a little cabin.

 

[kenmac]

You didn't say (or I didn't notice) what size gutters / down spout is he giving the price on 4'', 6'', etc,. Some gutter people install gutters better than others. Some just nail them in . Some strap them on where you can't see the straps. (Makes for a nicer job / look) My father inlaw has the small vinyl gutters on his house & they worked ok ( leaked a little) . Until, he had a metal roof put on the house. The water runs so fast off the metal roof that, the water over shoots the gutters

 

[jinman]

3) Vinyl. I've done it before and it did not leak at all and it was in a pretty rainy area. After about 2 years it was holding up fine. I did put up extra hangers to prevent sagging. The company who makes it has a limited lifetime warranty and guaranteed 'weather performance'. Clearly that is probably marketing hype. But from what people are saying so far it seems like durability concerns are speculation....but it does seem like it would get brittle over time.

I have installed two sections of vinyl gutters on straight runs like your cabin. It is so easy and goes so quickly I could not believe it. I've had excellent results on both installations with the normal leaf clogs that easily clear with cleanout; no leaks ever. If I were you, I'd do the vinyl...period..end of story. When you get finished you'll wonder why you even considered anything else.

Vinyl has lasted 15+ years on one roof and 8+ years on another with nothing ever replaced. The long-term roof has north exposure and no shade. There seems to be very little if any UV degradation.

 

[tommu56]

N80
Are you using the couplers to join the gutters? I dont

I lap them about 6" you will have to notch the top front inside one to fit them together drill them inplace take them apart put calk in the joint and pop rivet togrether

put some more calk in side

plus minimize the joints I only have 2 in 36 ft on my cabins porch roof I fhink they were 14' pcs

tom

 

[N80]

kenmac, I've got a metal roof on the cabin and the gutters are 4", but over-run hasn't been a problem. So I think standard size of whatever I use will be fine.

Jim, thanks for the info on your experience. Do you remember which brand you used? The last time I used Genova and so far that's the only brand I've researched. I was very impressed with the joints.

Tom, lapping them makes sense but I did not do that. I made the mistake of following the instructions. And I'll admit, when you read the instructions your first thought is: 'you have to be kidding, this will never work'. And that impression is correct.

And I've already recaulked them a couple of times. Plus, a freak snow damaged them a while back as well as a tree falling up against it, so it needs to go anyway. (It leaked before any of this.) I guess I could consider doing it with the aluminum sectional the way you did it.....but I really don't want to get burned again.

Thanks all. Fortunately, it doesn't look like I'm going to need gutters for another 4-5 months.

 

[jinman]

George, the first gutters I bought at Payless Cashways and the second set at Sutherlands. I'm sorry, but I don't know the brands.

 

[AlanB]

George, thinking about it from another angle is the only problem you have with the gutters you have now that they leak?

Could you not buy another peice (peices) of gutter, cut it into 12" sections and center and glue it down into the existing gutters? Sealant over laps (like brazing) is much more effective, although this could create dams in your gutters.

Anyway, just a thought.

 

[N80]

Leaking is the main problem but there has been some cosmetic damage and it doesn't look good. Doesn't really bother me, but figured if I could solve a leak problem and make it look better I would.