Rain water provides a nice soaking for a growing lawn and garden, but when it puddles around the foundation of a house bad things can happen. The gutter system of a house is rarely appreciated or even noticed until it stops doing its job—directing water away from the foundation or lower level—and when that happens, it’s time to take action. When rain puddles and settles around a house, or worse, in the basement, don’t wait. Left unchecked, water damage will only get worse and more costly to repair.
To replace a 100-foot section of damaged gutter and downspouts with a new vinyl system, a contractor will charge $1,500, which includes the labor and material. If you have carpentry skills and tools, and like working on a ladder, you can buy the material for $633, the cost of the gutter system, and do it yourself, pocketing a 58 percent saving. Figure a day of work for you and a helper to hold the components in place while you install them, so you'll need two ladders.
You‘ll find components and sections of gutter, downspouts and fasteners sold at most home centers and lumberyards. You’ll need a measuring tape, straightedge, chalk line, carpenter’s level, cordless drill and hacksaw.
After you’ve removed the old gutters and downspouts, and before installing a new gutter system it’s a good time to paint, if needed, the siding and trim and make any necessary repairs. After you’ve installed new gutters, run a garden hose up to them and spray water in the gutter to see that water flushes through them to ensure there are no leaks in the new gutters or downspouts.
To find more DIY project costs and to post comments and questions, visit www.diyornot.com and m.diyornot.com on smartphones.
Pro Cost—DIY Cost—Pro time—DIY Time—DIY Savings—Percent Saved
$1,500—$633—5.9—8.0—$867—58 percent
