Gutters around house - Cost?
-
Jan P on Aug 01, 2012We had some gutter guard things installed over our gutters when we moved to this house. Raised Ranch - husband doesn't do heights...it was over 2K, and this year we had them removed - they were crap - got clogged with the grit from the shingles...we now have a gutter cleaning company come twice a year. Much cheaper. And the gutter things didn't help during the winter - we had ice dams here - not a good thing. I would see if you can find a company that will come and clean them instead. Good luck.Helpful Reply
-
-
Jeanette S on Aug 01, 2012I am most familiar with that "better neighborhood" pricing. Even though I am not in a ritzy place (nice but not ritzy), it is part of one of the most affluent areas and believe me, the price us always a lot higher than my friend that lives about 2 miles away, but across a certain highway. She always chided me because we became such good home doers ourselves until she moved doors down from me and had sticker shock! I laughed my butt off at her frustration! (Her next boyfriend was a contractor! HA)Helpful Reply
-
-
Sherrie S on Aug 01, 2012I bought the most simple thing I could find because of huge pine trees and my gutters getting full & not working. House is fairly large. I bought gutter brushes (simple brushes for the gutters). They actually work very well but they, too, have to be cleaned sometimes. I'd love to find someone to clean them.Helpful Reply
-
-
Jim Ginas on Aug 01, 2012Thanks all. Issue is current gutters all have gutter guards on them and few trees close enough to really have too many leaves, but there is ONE area ONLY high on the house that water flows from the downspout high to the lower roof, overflowing the guter in that spot. trying to get a guttter company to come in and do a $100 fix is impossible and only way to get a gutter company out is if they price entire house for new gutters. (So hard to find honest contractors today! and Angies list doesn't provide gutter companies here to just repair or fix a problem.) Looking for a fair price for new gutters to replace the existing ones.Helpful Reply
-
-
Sherrie S on Aug 01, 2012Jim G, the only way I know to find good honest people is to talk to contractors/vendors I've used in the past. They don't even have to be in the same job market to make recommendations. Good guys know good guys. BBB and internet stuff is unreliable.Helpful Reply
-
-
Jim Ginas on Aug 01, 2012@ Sherrie.... in area I used to live in, all my contractors were Dad's of girls that played softball for me. Long time acquantances that did good work and often times I had to buy them a case of beer or give them a $100 gift card to bring their wives to dinner! I just don't know enough people around here.Helpful Reply
-
-
Lexi on Aug 02, 2012I'm sorry, but I hope you mean that you gave your contractors real money in addition to gift cards and beer. If people still believed in rewarding others for a job well done instead of looking for rock bottom deals, the nation and the economy would be in a much better place. What ever happened to fair wages? Those guys work hard for their money.Helpful Reply
-
-
Jim Ginas on Aug 02, 2012Lexi - The guys I'm talking about are close friends of mine that I coach football and/or softball with. they do work at my house and refuse to take money. sometimes, if bigger projects, but most times, materials only. ** I agree the contractors do work hard for their money and I pay pretty good money here in my area now, though even some of them here tell me that many come into the neighborhood and gauge. (3 estimates 1-2 are what seem fair and there's always at least one that is EXTREMELY high.)Helpful Reply
-
-
Lexi on Aug 02, 2012Ok, I apologize for complaining, when you referred to them as contractors rather than friends, and I took it the wrong way. Finding a fair price can sometimes be difficult. My husband was a contractor early in our marriage, and I can't tell you how many times he was underbid from some other shady contractor and would later be called in to repair all the poor work that they did. I can't comment on how to get around neighborhood pricing, as perceived affluence pricing is something that's been around in the US since at least the 1800's. Generally, after years of contracting, I can tell you that it's usually the mid range bid that will get you the best work for the best price. Be wary of bids that are too low as you will likely end up with someone who cuts corners instead of doing quality work. The contractors that bid high may be inexperienced, have better reputations, or have more overhead (ie higher paid employees and benefits packages).Helpful Reply
-
-
Ashley on Aug 02, 2012How frustrating the the gutter guys won't come out unless you want a quote on a whole new system. What about stopping into your local hardware store and seeing if they know of any general handyman that would be up for the job?Helpful Reply
-
-
Jim Ginas on Aug 02, 2012I love the Angies List for at least reading other customer reviews and the BBB. (I've coached for 27 years and am fortunate enough to have cose friends that do drywall, carpet/floor, plumbing and HVAC.) I tell every contractor coming here, I'd rather pay more for quality then going cheap on material or experience. thank you for your note. (I have a friend whose family s from Johnstown, PA.... not sure how big it is, but se tells me it is small / cozy type place. We have family in Westchester and many in Scranton / Wilkes Barre area......)Helpful Reply
-
-
Sherrie S on Aug 02, 2012Jim G, I recently contacted an A+ vendor from the BBB site to clean my gutters & I never heard from him. Makes me wonder about BBB. Seems to me they don't keep up with vendors. So now I will bother some of the contractors I have used to see if they recommend anyone. Gutter cleaners are hard to find. They all want to sell gutters.Helpful Reply
-
-
Jim Ginas on Aug 02, 2012@ Ashley - I'll do that. I had someone at Lowes give me a name once for plumbing work.... said he wasn;t supposed to, but he did understand issues getting contractors....Helpful Reply
-
-
Clay B on Aug 03, 2012A lot of roofing companies will do gutters also. Try some of them.Helpful Reply
-
-
Jim Ginas on Aug 04, 2012@ Clay: Thanks. It really does look like an easy fix, but key is getting the right things I would need and having the down spout extenders (or whatever they would be called, run so THAT amount of water would be routed past the house and to the bushes.... but I don;t have a clue and wish some gutter professional, looking to make a little side money would do the fix for me!Helpful Reply
-
-
Sherrie S on Aug 04, 2012Jim G, I must tell you that I got a letter from the vendor today. He represents a company called Mr. Handyman & they clean gutters & do many other jobs & are licensed & insured. Maybe I'll change my mind about BBB as the gutter cleaning will be done this Monday. See if they are in your area. They are apparently in a lot of states.Helpful Reply
-
-
Jim Ginas on Aug 05, 2012@ Sherry - Thanks. Will do.Helpful Reply
-
-
Sherrie S on Aug 07, 2012Jim G, they did clean the gutters & replaced 2 that I wanted replaced - dog crunched one trying to catch something & the other was over a rain barrel. I must say they did a great job but I think it was expensive. I hadn't had this done in over 2 years. Expensive or not it was worth it & I would hire them again.Helpful Reply
-
-
Jim Ginas on Aug 08, 2012ok, sent myself an e-mail with contact # and also submitted online for requesting contact. Thank you!Helpful Reply
-
-
Sherrie S on Aug 08, 2012Let us know how it goes.Helpful Reply
-
-
Jim Ginas on Jul 01, 2013attached photos: I think the total answer is changing out to 5" gutters and spouts. ISSUE is 3 estimates are they are all between $3500-$4800!!!Helpful Reply
-
Related Discussions
How to get rid of mice?
We seem to have some unwelcome Mickeys and Minnies in our house. What is the best way to get rid of them?
How to remove popcorn ceiling with asbestos?
I want to remove my popcorn ceiling, but it has asbestos in it. How do I go about this safely?
How to caulk baseboard gaps?
How do I fill gaps at baseboard, should I caulk? If so, does anyone know how to caulk baseboards?
How to fix squeaky hardwood floors?
How do I fix squeaky hardwood floors?
Will sun and rain change the miss color on our shingles?
We had our whole roof replaced with IKO Architectural shingles last week because of larger than golf ball size hail in early June. We used a highly rated contractor t... See more
How to remove urine smell from concrete?
Please HELP!!! Due to dogs, the urine smell in the concrete in out basement will knock you over. It is so bad you can smell it all through out our house. What is th... See more