Gutters, downspouts and gutter guards
The top of a drainage system that ends at your foundation. Where the water goes next matters as much as the gutter.
A gutter's job ends where the downspout does
Gutters collect the water from a roof, and on an average New Jersey house that is a lot of water in a heavy storm. Collecting it is only half the job. A downspout that empties at the base of the wall puts all of that water against the foundation, again and again, and that is the most common cause of the wet basements on our basement waterproofing page.
So when we quote gutters, the quote includes where the water goes: downspout extensions, splash blocks, or a connection to an underground line or drain where the yard calls for one.
What makes gutters work
- Size. Five inch gutters suit most houses. Large roofs, steep roofs and long runs that collect from a big area are better served by six inch gutters and larger downspouts, which carry noticeably more water.
- Pitch. A gutter needs a slight, steady fall toward each downspout. Too little and water sits and freezes. Too much and it looks crooked from the street.
- Hangers. Hidden hangers screwed into the fascia hold far better than the old spikes that work loose. Closer spacing is worth it here, because snow and ice load a gutter heavily.
- Enough downspouts. A long run feeding one downspout overflows in the middle of a storm no matter how clean it is.
- Joints. Seamless gutters are formed to the length of each wall, so the only joints are at the corners and outlets. Joints are where sectional gutters leak.
- The fascia behind. A gutter is only as good as the board it hangs on. Soft or rotted fascia gets replaced before anything is hung on it.
Gutter repair
Not every gutter problem needs a new system. Sagging runs can be rehung, leaking corners resealed, low spots repitched, and a downspout that has come apart put back together. The two things that usually make repair the wrong answer are rotted fascia behind the gutter and old sectional gutters leaking at many joints at once.
Gutter guards
Guards reduce how often gutters need cleaning. None of them removes the need entirely, and anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something. Fine mesh guards stop the most, including the small debris and pine needles that pass through coarser screens, but they still need an occasional brush off the top. Solid covers that rely on water curling around a rounded lip work well in moderate rain and can overshoot in a downpour. The right choice depends on what grows over your roof, and the trees are the first thing we look at.
Common questions
How much should it cost to install gutters?
The price follows the total length, the number of corners and downspouts, the size and material, how high the eaves are, and whether fascia needs repair first. Guards add to it. We measure on site and give you a written price. See what drives the price.
Should I get 5 or 6 inch gutters?
Five inch gutters handle most houses. Six inch gutters make sense for large or steep roofs, long runs, and valleys that dump a lot of water into one spot. We size them from the roof, not from habit.
How far apart should gutter hangers be?
Closer than most people expect in a snow climate. Spacing around every two feet is common in New Jersey, which works out to about five hangers in a ten foot run, and closer still under a valley or where ice builds up.
Is there a downside to gutter guards?
Some. Every guard still needs occasional attention, some types overshoot in very heavy rain, and a guard fitted to a badly pitched gutter just hides the problem. They are worth it under trees and less so on an open lot.
What is the most effective type of gutter guard?
For stopping debris, fine mesh generally does best, because it keeps out small material such as pine needles and seed pods that pass through coarser screens. What suits your house depends on the trees above it.
Can I install gutters myself?
On a single story with easy access, some homeowners do. The parts that go wrong are the pitch, the hanger spacing and where the downspouts discharge, and working from a ladder at the eaves is where most of the risk is.
This page was last updated in September 2026.
Water pouring over the gutters?
Call (973) 489-3642. It is usually a fixable pitch, size or downspout problem.