Gutter Services
Most homeowners don’t spend a lot of time thinking about their gutters. Understanding their importance, though, can prevent costly gutter repair or gutter replacement bills in the future.
The best gutters funnel water off the roof and away from your home, which protects your siding, windows, doors, and foundation from water damage. That sounds important, but many homeowners don’t realize how much damage can occur when their gutters are clogged, leaking, and broken.
When gutters aren’t functioning properly, rainwater runs off the roof of the house and collects on the ground near the foundation. Heavy rains can result in standing pools of water, which can cause a multitude of problems. Hixon specializes in new gutters, gutter repair, and gutter replacement.
Gutters Protect Your Home
Even a little bit of water can cause extensive – and expensive – damage to your home. A quality gutter install protects your home from:
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- Home and basement flooding.
- Cracked or damaged foundation.
- Infestations: Mosquitos and other insects breed in standing water.
- Mold: Overflowing gutters create an environment for mold to flourish in crawlspaces and basements.
- Erosion: Topsoil protects the foundation of your home. If water is not correctly diverted away from your home, the topsoil will erode and leave your foundation vulnerable.
- Straining to the exterior of your home.
- Paint damage.
- Rotting and/or rusting of exterior building material.
- Damage to landscaping: Fungi can damage or kill your flowers and scrubs.
Gutter Maintenance
Even the best gutters should be cleaned at least twice a year. Have your gutters checked to be sure they aren’t pulling away from your house. Make sure your downspouts are clear and not blocked by leaves. The water from gutters, downspouts and around the house should flow away from your home.
Many homeowners prefer to clean their own gutters, while others hire a gutter expert to do the cleaning. The cost of hiring a professional is small compared to the money you will spend on repairs to your home if your gutters aren’t functioning properly.
If you are cleaning the gutters yourself, make sure to check for the following and repair/replace these problem areas immediately:
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- Rusted spots
- Dents and holes
- Broken gutter hangers
- Disconnected joints
Seamless Gutter Installation
If you are considering new gutters, give Hixon a call to discuss our seamless gutter installation process, which includes many benefits such as:
Less Maintenance: Gutters with joints are usually prone to debris accumulation. Twigs, leaves and other such things accumulate in the gutters and can clog them. Birds and other pests often make their way into gutters. Weeds also can work their way into walls and adjoining structures. Seamless gutters are more firmly fixed, meaning there is less chance of clogging and debris accumulation. Seamless gutters require much less cleaning and maintenance compared to traditional new gutters.
No Leakage: Seamless gutters have fasteners and joints only at the corners and downspouts. This streamlined construction minimizes leaks and requires much less maintenance. Joints and seals that can erode or gather debris, so seamless gutters offer far better protection for your property.
Wide Variety: Seamless gutters are available in a wide variety of colors to best match your property’s exterior. Seamless gutters also come with a baked-on enamel finish, which never requires painting.
Made to Measure: Seamless gutters are made to measure. They fit your property perfectly. It also requires professional gutter install to ensure that the gutters serve you through years and offer the best possible protection to your structure.
Better Rate of Return: You might have to spend a larger amount on seamless gutters initially, but with low maintenance and gutter repair costs, they offer a much higher return and pay for themselves in less time.
Aesthetics: Seamless gutters look much better than sectional gutters with all the joints and fasteners. They protect the aesthetics of your home.
Gutter Guard Installation
As homeowners, we all need to do things that help maintain our properties and prevent damage that can occur over time. Cleaning your gutters is one of those tasks that many of us dread or can’t physically do. Give Hixon a call to discuss LeafBlaster Gutter Guards and give “climbing the ladder” a whole new meaning in home maintenance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What's the difference between seamless and sectional gutters?
A: Seamless gutters are custom-fabricated on-site to match your home’s exact measurements, with joints only at corners and downspouts. This eliminates the multiple connection points found in sectional gutters, which are the most common failure points for leaks and debris accumulation. Seamless gutters require less maintenance, have fewer leak opportunities, and offer better aesthetics since there aren’t visible seams every 10-15 feet. They’re available in various colors with baked-on enamel finishes that never need painting. While sectional gutters may have lower upfront costs, seamless gutters provide superior long-term value through reduced repair and maintenance expenses.
Q: When should I replace my gutters instead of repairing them?
A: Consider gutter replacement rather than repair when you notice multiple issues: extensive rust spots covering more than 30% of the system, numerous holes or cracks, sagging sections pulling away from the fascia, frequent leaks at multiple joints, or visible water damage to your home’s foundation, siding, or basement. If repairs are needed every season or repair costs exceed 50% of replacement cost, investing in new seamless gutters makes financial sense. Homes older than 20 years with original sectional gutters often benefit from upgrading to seamless systems, especially before listing the property or after roof replacement.
Q: How often should gutters be cleaned in South Carolina?
A: South Carolina gutters should be cleaned at minimum twice yearly—once in late spring after pollen season and again in late fall after leaves drop. Properties with overhanging trees, particularly common throughout the state’s wooded residential areas, may require quarterly cleaning. Pine trees, abundant across South Carolina, shed needles year-round, necessitating more frequent maintenance. Coastal properties from Charleston to Myrtle Beach face additional challenges from salt air and coastal storms. Commercial properties and industrial facilities should maintain quarterly cleaning schedules to prevent water damage to valuable equipment and inventory. Signs you need immediate cleaning include water spilling over gutters during rain, sagging sections, visible debris, or plants growing from gutters.
Q: Do gutter guards really work, or are they a waste of money?
A: Quality gutter guards like LeafBlaster significantly reduce cleaning frequency and prevent most debris accumulation, though they don’t completely eliminate maintenance. They’re particularly valuable for properties with significant tree coverage, two-story homes where cleaning is dangerous, or homeowners unable to physically maintain gutters. Gutter guards prevent large debris like leaves, pine needles, and twigs from entering the system while allowing water to flow through. However, fine debris like pine needles and roof grit may accumulate over time, requiring occasional rinsing. For South Carolina properties with heavy oak canopy, pine groves, or mixed hardwoods, gutter guards provide substantial value by reducing cleaning from 4-6 times yearly to once annually, while also preventing pest nesting.
Q: Is gutter installation included with roof replacement?
A: New gutter installation is typically separate from roof replacement, though coordinating both projects offers advantages. Many homeowners schedule gutter replacement during roof replacement to minimize costs—the scaffolding and labor setup serve both projects. Old gutters often sustain damage during roof tear-off, and installing new seamless gutters after new roofing ensures proper integration with drip edge and fascia. This coordination prevents future issues where new roofing meets aging gutters. Bundling projects may provide cost savings through reduced mobilization fees and ensures your home’s entire water management system—roof and gutters—is updated simultaneously for maximum protection against South Carolina’s heavy rainfall and severe weather.
Q: Is gutter installation included with roof replacement?
A: New gutter installation is typically separate from roof replacement, though coordinating both projects offers advantages. Many homeowners schedule gutter replacement during roof replacement to minimize costs—the scaffolding and labor setup serve both projects. Old gutters often sustain damage during roof tear-off, and installing new seamless gutters after new roofing ensures proper integration with drip edge and fascia. This coordination prevents future issues where new roofing meets aging gutters. Bundling projects may provide cost savings through reduced mobilization fees and ensures your home’s entire water management system—roof and gutters—is updated simultaneously for maximum protection against South Carolina’s heavy rainfall and severe weather.