What's in the per-foot number
Material and gauge. Hangers and fasteners. Sealant. Labor to remove the old gutter and haul it off. Labor to roll, hang, pitch and seal the new. Downspouts, elbows and straps are usually priced separately by the foot and the piece.
A quote that doesn't itemize downspouts is a quote to ask questions about.
What drives it up
Height. A three-story elevation costs more per foot than a ranch because of staging and access.
Complexity. Dormers, valleys, multiple short offset runs and steep pitches all slow the work down. One long straight elevation is the cheapest foot of gutter there is.
Material. 6-inch over 5-inch is roughly 20 to 30 percent. Half-round is more. Copper is a different tier entirely.
Fascia repair. About a third of replacement jobs turn up at least one soft board.
What a cheap bid is usually leaving out
.019 aluminum instead of .027 or .032. Hangers at three feet instead of two. No haul-off. Sectional instead of seamless. Fascia problems not mentioned because nobody looked.
None of those show up on the day of install. All of them show up in year three.
Getting a real number
We measure free, walk the roofline, look at the fascia, count the downspouts you have and the ones you need, and put it in writing with the material and gauge named.
Financing is available on larger jobs through John Beal Roofing — ask at the measure.
Line items that should be on your quote
A clear gutter estimate lists the linear feet of gutter, the number of corners, the number and length of downspouts and elbows, the hanger type and spacing, end caps and outlets, tear-off and haul-away of the old system, and any fascia repair, either priced or as a stated allowance. Gutter guards should be their own line, so you can see what they add. If a quote is one number with no breakdown, ask for one.
How St. Louis house styles change the price
Height matters most. Two- and three-story homes take more setup and safety equipment than a single-story ranch. Hip-roof bungalows common in south city have more corners per foot than a simple gable, and every corner is a miter. Detached garages, porches and dormers add short runs. Steep pitches, tight gangways between city houses and landscaping that limits ladder placement all add labor.
Ways to lower the cost without cutting corners
Replace gutters when you replace the roof, so the work shares setup and the fascia is handled once. If you plan on guards, add them at installation rather than as a second trip. And if only one run has failed, ask whether it can be repaired instead of replacing the whole house. We'll tell you honestly when that makes sense.
Repair, replace or add guards: what to spend on first
If water is getting into the house or the fascia is rotting, fix that first. Problems you can't see get more expensive the longer they wait. If your gutters are sound but overflow, look at downspout size and count before buying a whole new system. If the gutters work but you're cleaning them constantly, guards are where the money goes. And if the roof is near the end of its life, it usually makes sense to wait and replace the gutters when the roof is done.
Questions to ask before you sign
Is fascia repair included, and if not, how is it priced? What hangers are used and how far apart? How many downspouts, what size, and where does their water discharge? Is tear-off and haul-away included? Is the company insured, and will you get the scope in writing? A company that answers these clearly is usually one that does the job the way it was quoted.
Why prices vary so much between companies
Two quotes can cover very different work. One may include fascia repair, larger downspouts and hidden hangers at close spacing, while another leaves all three out and comes in lower. Insurance, crew experience and cleanup all show up in the price too. Comparing line by line is the only fair way to compare.
What you get for the money
A properly installed gutter system is one of the less expensive parts of a home's exterior, and it protects some of the most expensive: the fascia, the siding, the foundation and the basement. Spending a little more for hidden hangers at close spacing, correctly sized downspouts and a fascia check up front usually costs less over the life of the system than the cheapest bid followed by repairs. When we quote, we explain why each item is there, and we'll tell you which ones you can skip if the budget is tight.
If you're comparing estimates now, send us the other quotes along with ours, and we'll go through them line by line with you, even if you don't hire us. Call (314) 429-6000 to schedule a free measure.
Paying for gutter work
Most homeowners pay when the job is finished and they've seen the gutters drain. For larger projects, or gutters done together with a new roof, ask about the payment options when we quote. We'll explain how the estimate turns into a final invoice, including how any fascia repair found during tear-off gets priced and approved before we do it, so there are no surprises on the bill.
Questions people ask
How much do gutters cost per foot in St. Louis?
It depends on material, gauge, height and roofline. We measure and quote in writing rather than guessing on the phone.
Is it cheaper to repair or replace gutters?
Repair, until you're patching more than once a year. At that point replacement is cheaper over any real time horizon.
Do you charge for estimates?
No. Measures and estimates are free.
Is financing available?
Yes on larger jobs, through John Beal Roofing. Ask when we come out.
Why is one bid so much lower than the others?
Usually gauge, hanger spacing, or haul-off. Ask each bidder to name the aluminum thickness in writing.
Do gutter guards add a lot to the cost?
They're a separate line item. Adding them when the gutters go in avoids paying for a second visit later.
Will insurance pay for new gutters?
If a storm damaged them and the damage is documented, gutters are often part of the claim. Your policy decides what's covered. We document the damage with photos.
Do copper or half-round gutters cost more?
Yes. Specialty materials and profiles cost more than standard aluminum K-style. See our copper and half-round pages.
Free estimate
We measure, we look at the fascia, and you get a number in writing.
Talk to a real St. Louis gutter company
Third generation, family-run since 1947. Somebody picks up, day or night.