St. Louis homes, up close
Much of what we see in St. Louis goes on brick two-flats and turn-of-the-century townhomes, and the neighborhoods we're in most weeks are Tower Grove South, Benton Park, Soulard, Shaw, Dutchtown. The housing stock skews 1890–1930, and houses built in the same years tend to wear out the same way.
The local pattern: built-in box gutters lined with old tin that finally rusted through at the seam, dumping water straight down the brick. We see it enough in St. Louis that we look for it before anything else.
City lots run narrow and deep, so downspouts usually have nowhere to go but a gangway a few feet from the neighbor's foundation. Getting the water out to the street matters more here than it does in the county.
Trees, debris and what that means for guards
St. Louis has heavy silver maple and sycamore canopy over the older streets. It is the biggest single reason gutters here clog as often as they do, and it is why guard advice is different block to block.
What we stress on St. Louis work tends to be box gutters and brick parapets — the choice that matters most on these homes. Overflow from a clean gutter is not a debris issue, and we would sooner measure the roof planes than charge for a cleaning that will not fix it.
There's no charge to look. When a repair will do the job instead of a replacement, that is what goes on the quote.
Gutter, guard and drainage services in St. Louis
City houses, city gutters
St. Louis City's housing stock is different from the suburbs. Brick two-family and four-family flats, Victorian rowhouses, shotgun-style homes and 1920s bungalows all have their own rooflines, and many still have built-in box gutters set into the cornice, or decades of patches on hanging gutters. Water off these roofs drops into tight gangways and alleys, so a leaking corner can soak a neighbor's wall as easily as your own.
Built-in and box gutters on older homes
A lot of older city homes have gutters built into the roof edge, lined with metal that eventually wears through. When that liner leaks, water runs into the cornice and the masonry below. We can reline a box gutter or, where it suits the house, convert it to a hanging gutter. Some city historic districts review exterior changes, so we'll talk through which approach fits your block before any work starts.
Working on tight city lots
City jobs often mean alley access, narrow gangways and neighbors a few feet away. We plan ladder placement around gardens and fences, protect neighboring property, and keep the alley clear. Neighborhood pages for Soulard, Tower Grove, The Hill and others cover what's typical block by block.
What we see most in city neighborhoods
Undersized downspouts on two-family and four-family flats that can't keep up with a large flat or low-slope roof. Gutters that empty into a shared gangway and soak a neighbor's foundation. Box gutter liners leaking into the cornice and staining the brick below. Detached alley garages with no gutters at all, sending water straight into the alley or against the back of the house. Each of these has a straightforward fix once someone looks at where the water is actually going.
Alley garages and carriage houses
Plenty of city lots have a garage or carriage house on the alley that was never guttered, or has a single sagging run. Adding a short seamless gutter and a downspout that drains away from the foundation protects the building and keeps water off the alley. We often do these at the same time as the main house so it's one trip.
Choosing gutters that fit a city house
The right gutter for a city home depends on the house. A Victorian rowhouse with a decorative cornice often looks best with a relined box gutter or half-round. A two-family flat with a big low-slope roof usually needs larger outlets and oversized gutters to keep up with summer storms. A 1920s bungalow with a hip roof does well with standard seamless K-style in a color that matches the trim. We'll walk the house with you, explain what fits and why, and give you a written estimate with each option priced separately so you can compare them side by side.
Booking a measure in the city
Call (314) 429-6000 or use the form on this page. Let us know if the house has alley access, a shared gangway or a detached garage, so we can plan the visit and the right ladders before we arrive.
Gutter FAQ for St. Louis
Can you come out to St. Louis this week?
What do you fix most often in St. Louis?
Typically, built-in box gutters lined with old tin that finally rusted through at the seam, dumping water straight down the brick.
Do you install gutter guards in St. Louis?
We do. With heavy silver maple and sycamore canopy over the older streets, micro-mesh handles the debris here, and foam inserts don't.
What licensing and insurance do you have?
Do you install gutters in St. Louis?
Yes — St. Louis is well within our service area, including 63104, 63110, 63116, 63118, 63139 together with City of St. Louis.
Do you work in St. Louis historic districts?
Yes. We work in neighborhoods like Lafayette Square and Soulard and will plan the approach with any district review in mind.
Can you replace a built-in box gutter with a hanging gutter?
Often, yes. We'll look at the cornice and roof edge and tell you whether relining or converting is the better fit for the house.
Do you cover both St. Louis City and St. Louis County?
Yes, along with St. Charles County and the Metro East. See our service area.
Nearby
Fenton · St. Charles · Crestwood · Creve Coeur · Wentzville · Ballwin
Free St. Louis gutter quote
Describe the problem and we'll schedule a visit.
Neighborhood pages
Closer to home: Central West End gutter work · Benton Park · Tower Grove
A St. Louis gutter company that actually covers St. Louis
Family-run since 1947, third generation, and the phone is answered around the clock.