Thinking a do-it-yourself gutter replacement might work for you? Before you commit, be sure you’re the right person for the job. While a minor fix or two might be doable on your own, it’s usually best to hire a professional to get top-notch results.
Why? Well, gutters aren’t as easy to install as they might seem, and making mistakes can cost you in home damage due to Michigan’s rainy, snowy weather. Here’s what to know about the risks before you choose a DIY solution:
Risk #1: The Job Takes More Work and Effort Than You’d Think
Replacing gutters isn’t that big a deal, right? Wrong! Doing this home improvement project correctly involves more than hanging material from your eaves. It’s actually a lot of work…with great attention to detail needed.
The fact is, hanging gutters can take at least a day and often longer, depending on how large your Michigan home is. That’s because the installation process has several steps that require care, like measuring everything (at least twice to be precise!) and then cutting the gutters to fit. Any mistakes in measurements, and you have to start over. What a hassle!
Risk #2: DIY Mistakes Put Your Home in the Danger Zone
Gutters only work as they should when they’re installed just right. Each piece has to perfectly line up with the next piece, and they all have to be sloped just enough to allow water to flow away from your roof and foundation. Pros train for a long time to get this part of the job perfected, which includes plenty of geometry and math. Even the slightest misalignment can direct water into your home. Yikes!
Other mistakes can crop up too, especially during DIY projects when you don’t know what you don’t know—until it’s too late. For instance, gutters come in different sizes and materials (like vinyl, aluminum, steel, or copper), depending on how much water they need to handle. Choose the wrong size and material for your gutters, and they may overflow during Michigan’s heavy rainstorms, leading to leaks or foundation damage.
Risk #3: Delays Mean Your Home May Be Exposed in Bad Weather
Delays can happen for all sorts of reasons on a DIY project. Unlike a pro, you probably won’t have extra materials on hand, so if something breaks or is cut wrong, you’ll have to go buy new materials. That takes time. And unlike a pro, gutter replacement isn’t your exclusive job. Instead, you’re at home, where family, pets, and other needs can distract you. It’s all too easy to break for lunch, get caught on another task, and fail to get back outside to finish the work.
Any delays are a problem! If rain or snow is in the forecast soon, your home won’t be protected properly when bad weather arrives. With a pro gutter team, this won’t be an issue because they’ll have everything on hand to finish the work quickly and without distractions.
Risk #4: You’ll Face Serious Safety Hazards
Working on your gutters means climbing a ladder, which is always a bit risky because ladders can be pretty shaky. At the very least, don’t try to do a project like this without a pal who can hold the ladder while you climb it. (Yes, pros climb ladders too—but they have workman’s compensation and insurance to cover any falls they take.)
Old gutters can also injure you while you’re taking them down. The pieces have sharp edges that can slice you and send you to urgent care. Rusty nails and screws could cause deep scratches (and no one wants a painful tetanus shot). Heavy power tools can slip and hurt you, too. Just ask an ER doctor how many injuries they treat due to DIY mistakes, and you might want to let a pro take the risks for you.
Risk #5: You Could Void Home Warranties!
This idea should make you shiver a bit. Here’s the reality—a DIY gutter installation makes it more likely that some home warranties you’re counting on to protect your house’s exterior could go out the window. Ugh! Here’s why this can happen:
- Your roof warranty can be voided if you do work that causes harm to your roofing. If you don’t properly mount the gutters to your eaves, it can damage roof shingles, fascia, and soffits. Because you did the work yourself as a homeowner, the manufacturer can refuse to cover repairs.
- When gutters aren’t attached correctly, they can break away and strike your siding, causing damage. The siding manufacturer might not cover the costs of replacing boards because you caused the issue.
Unfortunately, even your gutter system could lose its warranty protection because you made an error during installation.
Risk #6: There’s Technical Expertise That Only Pros Have
Expert gutter installers perfect their skills, so everything gets done right. They have the tools they need, because it’s part of their job—while you might lack the proper tools and be forced to buy something you’ll rarely use again.
Well-trained gutter professionals have a lot of experience—sometimes decades’ worth, like we do. Our team knows the ins and outs of working with any type of architecture—from steep roofs to nearly flat ones, from Colonials and Victorians with dormers and gables to Cape Cods and Ranch homes.
Your house’s unique gutter needs may not be clear to you as a DIY-er, but our pros will know the best solutions and lead you in the right direction, so you’ll have peace of mind.
Avoid the Risks and Ensure Your Gutter System Is Installed Properly by Local Professionals
Why not say no to the potential issues that can occur with an imperfect DIY job on your gutters? With John McCarter Construction doing the work, you’ll kick back and relax, knowing your gutters are hung perfectly! Reach out to our team to get a long-lasting gutter replacement that keeps your home safe year-round. We look forward to helping you!
