When Should Gutters Be Replaced? – 5 Most Common Reasons

Rain gutters, and especially seamless metal gutters, are generally very durable. But when is it time to replace your gutters? We’ve listed the 5 most common reasons for gutter replacement.

The lifespan varies somewhat, but roughly speaking, gutters last about 30–60 years. However, gutter replacement often becomes necessary earlier due to factors such as appearance, leaks, or damage caused by snow and ice. If gutter replacement is needed, it’s a relatively small investment compared to the damage a leaking gutter can cause over time.

5 Most Common Reasons for Gutter Replacement

1. Gutters Are Leaking

A rusted hole in the gutter is basically always a sign that the gutters need replacing. In exceptional cases, a small and clean hole can be patched. A leak from the gutter seam can also be repaired with appropriate sealant, depending on the situation. Gutter seams are the most common leak point, which is why seamless rain gutters made on-site to the house’s measurements are now preferred. With these, the risk of leaks is significantly lower.

2. Snow and Ice Have Damaged the Gutters

If the house lacks snow guards, snow and ice falling from the roof can wreak havoc on gutters, wall ladders, and the house structure. At the same time, it’s also a safety risk for people. That’s why snow guards, especially above walkways, are recommended even for older houses. In new houses, snow guard installation is already required for move-in inspection approval.

3. The Old Rainwater System Is Difficult to Clean

Previously, gutters were usually made with internal brackets. In this case, brackets run across the top of the gutter at approximately 80-centimeter intervals. This significantly complicates gutter cleaning and other maintenance tasks. Nowadays, gutters typically have external brackets. This allows cleaning to be done even from the ground with a special extension pole tool.

4. Old Rain Gutters Overflow During Heavy Rain

Old gutters can overflow during heavy rain. This may be because the gutters haven’t been cleaned in a while and water therefore can’t flow freely through them. If the gutters overflow even though the eaves troughs and downspouts are clean and the slopes are adequate, the rainwater system is likely undersized. This problem can’t be solved any other way than by replacing the entire rainwater system with a larger one that can handle a greater volume of water.

5. Old Gutters Easily Collect Debris and Dirt

There are major differences in gutter coatings. Metal gutters with intact coating hardly collect any debris. In this case, most of the needles, seeds, and leaves falling from trees come down with the rainwater. Old gutters with damaged coating and plastic gutters with scratches and abrasions, on the other hand, easily collect debris and dirt. In such cases, emptying the gutters once a year may not be enough to keep them functional. In such situations, it may be wisest to replace the entire rainwater system with a new one. This way you’ll save your own time and nerves.

If renewing your rainwater system is becoming timely, we’re happy to do the work for you. Installing new gutters typically takes our professionals just one day. We always make gutters on-site to measure from Finnish Nesco Oy products.

Väriset Oy no longer installs rainwater systems or roof safety products. We’re still happy to serve you with exterior cladding painting as well as tile roof coating and cleaning.