5 Reasons Why a DIY Rain Gutter Installation Could Become Your Worst Headache

July 19, 2017

There are many home improvement enthusiasts who would be excited at the opportunity to work on a project as necessary as a rain gutter installation. However, for every homeowner who has valuable experience in roofing and construction, there are many more who lack these home improvement abilities. However, they still want to try to install their own rain gutters and save a few bucks along the way.

Don't get the wrong impression—it is good to be aware of the risks of not having rain gutter and it is also good to want to do something about it. But, if you have never lifted a hammer in your life, you should know that maybe tackling this type of project won't be a smooth ordeal.

The main reason people are pro-DIY rain gutter installations is to save money. Nobody can blame you if you are on a shoestring budget, but you should at least know what to expect from doing the installation yourself. Consider the pros and cons, knowing your biggest pro is saving money.

What about the cons? How bad can it truly get if you dust off your old tool box and get to work? Here are the 5 most common reasons why a DIY rain gutter installation could become your worst headache:

It Can Be Dangerous

Not many people expect to start their day working on their gutters and end up in the emergency room. The truth is that these accidents are very common, especially when those tasks involve ladders, hammers, drills, plus coordination.

Installing your gutters can be quite risky, and even more so when you don't know exactly how or what to do. Can you lift a long section of a gutter over your fascia while standing on a ladder? Are you familiarized with all the safety measures you need to take to keep yourself from falling or hurting yourself? Are you in good physical condition, or will demanding work complicate back pains and other conditions? Do you have medical insurance and will you be covered in the case of an accident?

Depending on your answers to these questions, maybe you'd be better off hiring professionals.

You Could Make Costly Mistakes

If you have been reading our blogs regularly, you are surely familiar with the most common mistakes rookies make when installing their rain gutters, and most of those mistakes can seriously affect the functioning of your rain gutter system.

Whether your mistake is choosing the wrong gutter type for your property or not being familiar with the right number of hangers per feet of gutter you need, you need to be aware that any of these can eventually lead to gutter collapse, which will then lead to costly water damage on your property.


You Won't Be Able to Get Custom or Seamless Rain Gutters

Unless you are an independent roofer who has the proper, expensive equipment, it will be extremely difficult for you to install customized rain gutters on your property. As a DIYer, you will entirely depend upon Home Depot's (or another provider) rain gutter selection, which means you will be stuck with PVC gutters most of the time.

Also, forget about seamless gutters, as these are usually fabricated onsite using special equipment most homeowners can't afford to buy.

It Can Be More Complicated Than It Looks

Maybe you thought that installing gutters was as easy as taking measurements, gearing up, and spending a Sunday afternoon hanging your gutters with a few pals. Think again.

Yes, you need to take measurements, but you must also be on the lookout for problems like rotten fascia boards, water-damaged siding, and be able to repair them before even thinking about installing the hangers. You must also be able to determine the best placement for your gutters, the right tilt, where to put downspouts, and many other details that could entail a long and painful learning curve.

If become more and more frustrated the more time you spend trying to figure out the YouTube video you have already watched a million times, consider having professionals help you.

It Won't Save You Money in the Long Run

This was the purpose of DIYing in the first place, right?

Imagine you make a mistake during the installation and the water doesn't flow correctly. Correcting your mistake will cost you more, whether you need to add more hangers or must hire someone else to do it. If you choose not to correct it, it will also cost you when your home is subjected to a heavy downpour, and your basement floods and/or your garden erodes, damaging your foundations.

Did you fall from a ladder while installing your gutters? Medical bills are costly as well. In contrast, if a rain gutter company employee has an accident while working for you, they are covered under the company's insurance, so you won't need to worry about that.

Also, take into consideration that the retail prices of gutters are higher than what most rain gutter companies offer with their services. The reason? Rain gutter companies buy their material at a wholesale price.

If you want your rain gutter installation to be well done and hassle free, consider hiring professionals instead of DIYing and risking any of these scenarios. A responsible and experienced company will be able to do a high-quality job, offer you a variety of options, and inform you of any repairs needed while keeping your budget in mind. For rookies, there is no better choice.

If you have decided that you need a team of professional with more than twenty years of experience and who is familiar with the Miami-Dade County regulations and inclement weather, then Rain Gutters Solution is for you. Contact us by calling (305) 270-7779 or by filling out our contact form. Remember that you can also sign up to our newsletter to be privy to our latest promos, and you can find us on Facebook at Rain Gutters Solution, Twitter @RainGuttersSolution and Instagram @GuttersSolution.