Suffolk, VA on Aug 01, 2012

Gutters around house - Cost?

Understand cost is relevant to location. Curious to what is fair price vice what is exploiting a homeowner because of a neighborhood. 391 feet of "Carefree Gutter Guard" installed, 150 feet of 3x4 downspouts, 5 inside miters & 16 outside miters, includes take down of old gutters.

20 Comments

Jan P Windsor, CT

We 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.

on Aug 01, 2012 · Like 0
Jeanette S Atlanta, GA

I 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)

on Aug 01, 2012 · Like 0
Sherrie S Debary, FL

I 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.

on Aug 01, 2012 · Like 1
Jim G Suffolk, VA

Thanks 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.

on Aug 01, 2012 · Like 1
Sherrie S Debary, FL

Jim 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.

on Aug 01, 2012 · Like 1
Jim G Suffolk, VA

@ 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.

on Aug 01, 2012 · Like 2
Lexi Johnstown, PA

I'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.

on Aug 02, 2012 · Like 1
Jim G Suffolk, VA

Lexi - 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.)

on Aug 02, 2012 · Like 0
Lexi Johnstown, PA

Ok, 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).

on Aug 02, 2012 · Like 0
Ashley T Poplar Branch, NC

How 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?

on Aug 02, 2012 · Like 1
Jim G Suffolk, VA

I 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......)

on Aug 02, 2012 · Like 0
Sherrie S Debary, FL

Jim 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.

on Aug 02, 2012 · Like 0
Jim G Suffolk, VA

@ 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....

on Aug 02, 2012 · Like 0
Clay B Chesapeake, VA

A lot of roofing companies will do gutters also. Try some of them.

on Aug 03, 2012 · Like 1
Jim G Suffolk, VA

@ 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!

on Aug 04, 2012 · Like 0
Sherrie S Debary, FL

Jim 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.

on Aug 04, 2012 · Like 0
Jim G Suffolk, VA

@ Sherry - Thanks. Will do.

on Aug 05, 2012 · Like 0
Sherrie S Debary, FL

Jim 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.

on Aug 07, 2012 · Like 1
Jim G Suffolk, VA

ok, sent myself an e-mail with contact # and also submitted online for requesting contact. Thank you!

on Aug 08, 2012 · Like 0
Sherrie S Debary, FL

Let us know how it goes.

on Aug 08, 2012 · Like 0

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Gutters around house - Cost?

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