What to know before you start
Gutters have one job: move water off the roof and away from the foundation. When they sag, leak or dump water next to the house, the damage shows up later as cracked concrete, wet basements and rotted fascia.
Our estimator walks the whole roofline, measures each run, checks the fascia and notes where every downspout drains. The True Bid lists sizes, materials and downspout locations, so every installer bids on the same system.
What the job includes
- Removal and disposal of old gutters and downspouts
- Fascia repair where the old gutters caused rot
- Continuous gutters formed on site to fit each run
- Hangers spaced for snow and ice loads
- Downspouts sized and placed for the roof area they drain
- Extensions or splash blocks that carry water away from the foundation
- Gutter guards or heat cable, if the scope includes them
- Sealed corners and end caps, checked for proper slope
What we scope
K-style aluminum gutters
The standard gutter on most local homes, formed on site in long runs with few joints. Larger sizes handle big or steep roofs.
Steel and copper gutters
Heavier metals that stand up to dents better than aluminum. Copper is a premium choice for custom homes.
Half-round gutters
A rounded profile often used on traditional and custom homes.
Gutter guards
Screens and covers that keep needles, leaves and debris out. Most useful under trees.
Heat cable
Heating cable run through gutters and downspouts to keep meltwater moving at problem roof edges.
What drives the cost
Every project is different, so your True Bid prices yours line by line after the site visit. These are the things that move the price most.
- Length and height
- Total footage sets the material, and second-story runs need taller ladders and more time.
- Material and size
- Steel and copper cost more than aluminum, and oversized gutters and downspouts cost more than standard ones.
- Corners and downspouts
- Each inside corner, outside corner and downspout adds parts and labor.
- Fascia repair
- Rotted fascia boards have to be fixed before new gutters can hang.
- Guards and heat cable
- Guards add material across every run. Heat cable may also need a new outdoor outlet.
- Drainage work
- Buried drain lines or long extensions add digging and pipe.
Permits and HOAs in Douglas County
Replacing gutters usually doesn't need a building permit. Heat cable can be different. If it needs a new outlet or circuit, that electrical work may need a permit from your town's building department, or from Douglas County's Building Division in unincorporated areas like Highlands Ranch.
Many HOAs set gutter colors, and some care where downspouts discharge, especially near a shared lot line. Check before you pick a color. We note any approvals in the scope.
Built for Douglas County
Douglas County's clay soils swell when they get wet. A downspout that empties against the foundation feeds that clay, and the result can be heaved slabs, cracked walls and a damp basement. Getting water well away from the house is the most useful thing a gutter system does here.
Spring storms load gutters with heavy, wet snow, and freeze-thaw can build ice at the eaves. Hail dents thin aluminum. In wooded areas, including parts of Castle Pines, Franktown and Larkspur, needles clog gutters fast, and dry debris in a gutter can catch wind-blown embers during a wildfire.
How DougCO Builds runs your project
- Tell us about itSend the basics through the project form. We call to set up a site visit.
- One site visitOur estimator measures, photographs what's there and talks through what you want.
- Your True BidYou get a written, line-by-line scope and a budget before any contractor sees the job.
- Contractors bid on the same scopeVetted local contractors bid without your contact details. You compare the bids side by side.
- We manage it with youWe check insurance and licensing before work starts, then walk the job at milestones and at the finish.
Questions to ask before you hire
- What size gutters and downspouts are you installing, and why?
- How far apart will the hangers be, and what kind are they?
- Where will each downspout drain, and how far from the foundation?
- Will you repair rotted fascia, and how is that priced?
- What do your guards keep out, and how do they handle snow and ice?
Gutters questions
Do I need a permit for new gutters?
Usually not. Adding an outlet or circuit for heat cable is electrical work that may need a permit. Your HOA may also have rules on gutter color.
Are gutter guards worth it?
Under trees, especially pines, guards cut down on cleaning. They add cost, and some styles can hold snow. Our estimator notes the trees near your roof so you can decide.
Why do my gutters overflow in a heavy rain?
They may be too small for the roof, pitched wrong or short on downspouts. Clogged outlets are another common cause. A larger size or an added downspout often fixes it.
Will heat cable stop ice dams?
It helps keep meltwater moving in gutters and downspouts, but it doesn't fix the cause. Ice dams usually start with heat escaping into the attic, which insulation and ventilation address.
