You’re standing in the driveway during a summer storm, watching water sheet over the front of the gutter and splash against the siding. Or it’s February, and there’s a ridge of ice hanging off the edge of the roof right above the front door. Gutters in Hilltop, Denver don’t get much thought until they stop working, and then it’s hard to know whether you need a repair, new gutters or something done to the roof itself.
It helps to have someone who looks at the whole roof edge instead of just selling you a gutter. Gutters, fascia and roof flashing all work together, and a problem in one usually shows up in another.
APC Roofing is a roofing company that installs custom gutters and works on fascia and soffits. We’re GAF Certified, licensed and insured, and your estimate is free. Call 720-902-6940 to have your roof edge looked at.
A quick check you can do from the yard
You don’t need a ladder to spot most gutter trouble. On your next walk around the house, look for:
- Water marks or peeling paint on the fascia behind the gutter. That usually means water is running behind the gutter, not into it.
- Gutters that dip in the middle or lean away from the house. Bent hangers or soft fascia are the usual cause.
- Rust spots or drips at corners and seams, especially on older sectional gutters.
- Dents in gutters and downspouts after a hailstorm. If the gutters took hits, the roof probably did too.
- Washed-out soil, mulch or splash marks below the gutter line, which point to overflow.
- Downspouts that end right at the foundation with nothing to carry the water away.
If you see one or two of these, a repair may be enough. If you see most of them, it’s probably time to talk about replacement.
Three times homeowners usually call
After a hailstorm
Denver hail can dent aluminum gutters and downspouts in minutes. Light dents may not affect drainage. Deep ones can change the slope or crack the finish. Dents on gutters are also useful evidence of how hard the hail hit, so it’s worth having the roof checked at the same time. If you file a claim, you file it with your insurer and pay your own deductible. We document the damage and work with your adjuster.
When the roof is being replaced
This is the easiest time to get new gutters. The roof edge is open, a new drip edge goes in, and the gutters can be fitted to it properly. Hanging old gutters back on a new roof edge often means they never sit quite right. If your gutters are older or undersized, replacing both together saves a second disruption later.
When the fascia goes soft
Fascia is the board the gutters hang from. When water gets behind the gutter for years, the wood rots and the hangers can’t hold. Putting new gutters on rotten fascia just moves the problem. The board has to be repaired or replaced first, and the cause of the water behind it, often a missing drip edge, has to be fixed too.
Snow, ice and your gutters
Hilltop winters bring the same freeze-thaw as the rest of Denver. Snow melts on a sunny afternoon, runs to the cold roof edge and freezes again overnight. A gutter full of ice is heavy, and that weight bends hangers and pulls the gutter away from the house.
A few things help. Hangers spaced closer together carry ice better than widely spaced ones. Gutters pitched evenly toward the downspouts drain instead of holding water to freeze. And downspouts placed away from doors, steps and the driveway keep meltwater from turning into an ice patch where people walk.
If you get ice dams along the roof edge every winter, the gutter is usually not the cause. It’s worth having the roof edge looked at, since the fix may be on the roof, not in the gutter.
Trees and debris
If your lot has large trees, leaves, seeds and needles will end up in the gutters. Clogged gutters overflow in summer storms and hold ice in winter. Larger gutters and downspouts clog less often, and a downspout placed where debris collects keeps things moving. Cleaning a couple of times a year, usually late spring and late fall, keeps most systems working.
What new gutters look like
Most homes do best with seamless K-style aluminum gutters, formed on site to the exact length of each run so there are fewer joints to leak. Steel and copper are options too. Read more on our seamless gutters in Denver page.
How it works
- Book your free estimate. Call 720-902-6940 or request a free estimate online.
- Get a clear, honest assessment and estimate. We check the gutters, downspouts, fascia and the roof edge above them, and tell you whether a repair or replacement makes more sense. You get photos and a written estimate. Financing is available through Aqua Finance, Fortifi, Hearth and Home Run Finance.
- The work gets done and the site gets cleaned up. You’ll know the scope and timeline before anything starts.
Gutter questions from Hilltop homeowners
Should I replace my gutters when I get a new roof?
If they’re older, dented or undersized, yes. It’s the easiest time to fit them to the new roof edge.
Why does water run behind my gutters?
Usually the drip edge is missing or the gutter sits too low under the roof edge. Over time, that water rots the fascia.
Can you fix the fascia too?
Yes. Fascia and soffits are part of the roof edge, and soft fascia should be fixed before new gutters go on.
Gutters in Hilltop, Denver: book a free estimate
Call 720-902-6940 or book your free estimate online. You can also see our other Hilltop roofing services.
The goal is gutters that carry the water away, a dry front step in winter and a roof edge you don’t have to worry about.
