New Gutters Cost
Although high quality gutters can last up to 20 years, they are not completely resistant to natural wear and tear from extreme weather conditions. If you notice your gutters sagging or detaching from your home, then it may be time to install new gutters.
If faulty gutters are left unrepaired, they can cause a variety of serious problems including roof rot, mouldy attics, leaks, fascia cracks and can even affect your home’s foundation. If you suspect a problem with your gutters but are unsure of the costs involved, then you’ve come to the right place. From costs to types of guttering, we have all you need to know about installing new gutters.
How much does it cost to install new gutters?
There are many factors that can impact the total cost of installing new gutters for example the type of material, house size or location. However, as a guide, the average costs for installing new gutters including supply and labour costs are:
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TYPE OF PROPERTY
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SUPPLY AND LABOUR COSTS |
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Terraced House
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£400 - £500 |
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Semi- Detached House
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£400 - £500 |
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Detached House
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£500 - £700 |
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Bungalow
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£350 - £550 |
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Flat
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£250 - £400 |
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Garage
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£300 - £400 |
Labour Costs and Timescales
Depending on the type of property, the time it takes to install new gutters can vary. For most properties such as semi-detached or detached home, gutters will take around 3 to 6 hours to install. Timescales will increase for properties with more storeys or for homes that are difficult to access which could increase the time to up to a day. Installing guttering on a flat or garage will not take as long due to their size and can usually be completed within 2 to 4 hours.
Labour costs can vary by tradesperson and location but the average hourly rate to install gutters will be around £50 to £60 per hour. For more complex jobs, a steeper roof or higher storeys, an assistant may be required. If an assistant is required, then this could cost and extra £40 an hour for labour costs alone.
Additional Cost Factors
Although it is good practice to know the rough amount new gutters will cost, there can be unexpected additional factors that can raise the cost of installing new gutters.
Additional Work
It is no surprise that the longer it takes to install gutters, the more it will cost. Costs will increase to remove old gutters, if any repairs to existing fascia and soffits are needed or if any downpipes, gutter guards, membranes, or any other additional extras are required as the total installation time will increase to accommodate any extra work.
House Design and Shape
Although most standard houses are rectangular or square in shape, some houses can be a more complex shape especially those with added extensions. For houses with more corners, it is harder to connect the internal and external brackets and joints therefore taking longer to install guttering.
Accessibility
Flats and bungalows are easier to access than two to three storey homes. Gutter installation on multiple storey homes will need to include scaffolding to be able to safety access higher gutters. This will add to the cost, so make sure to factor in scaffolding hire or access towers to the total installation cost.
Guttering Materials- Pros and Cons
With many types of guttering materials available it can be hard choosing which one is right for your home. If you’re struggling with which material to choose, then continue reading for an introduction to each material including costs, advantages, and disadvantages.
uPVC (plastic) Guttering
Usually, one of the cheaper and more popular options, uPVC is a plastic-based guttering that can cost between £5 to £30 per metre, depending on the type and quality you choose. As previously stated, uPVC guttering is relatively cheap and can be easily installed and maintained. However, they are not as durable and long-lasting as other materials as they can be worn down over time and can be easily damaged.
Copper Guttering
One of the more attractive metal gutter materials, copper gutters are a soft and flexible material that can be moulded into different shapes. The costs for copper gutters can start from £15 to £40 per metre. Alongside their stylish appearance, copper gutters are durable, highly resistant to corrosion, and can be quite cheap depending on the type you choose. Although there are cheaper copper options, there are some copper gutters which can be quite costly, all fittings and fasteners must also be copper when using copper gutters so that corrosion is less likely to occur, and finally they can take longer to install than other types of guttering.
Steel Guttering
Steel guttering is a low-maintenance metal guttering coated by an alloy composed of magnesium zinc. This type of guttering can cost between £20 to £30 per metre. Advantages to steel guttering is that it is quite cheap, and the magnesium zinc alloy is strengthened so that is a very durable guttering option. The downsides to steel guttering are that as it is metallic it can be susceptible to rusting, may sag due to a loose connection and they are quite rigid in formation so are not very flexible.
Aluminium Guttering
Aluminium offers a light-weight metal guttering option which is on the more premium side of guttering materials. Aluminium gutters can start at £25 up to £30 per metre. Like steel gutters, they are a lightweight, strong, and durable gutter material, which is largely weather resistant. Unlike steel gutters, aluminium is quite ductile making it more flexible. Having said that, aluminium gutters are more expensive, can still be damaged by heavy hail, snow or wind and they cannot be fixed to roofs with copper flashing.
Cast Iron Guttering
Cast iron guttering is made up of a group of iron-carbon alloys and is one of the more expensive options at around £60 to £70 per metre. Advantages of cast iron gutters are that they are durable and easy to maintain but they are quite an expensive option for those with a smaller budget.
