Garden Grove, CA
Where the water goes after it leaves the roof
Gutters are the least interesting part of a roof and the cause of a surprising share of its problems.
Describe the gutters job
Three questions, then the address. Up to three Garden Grove contractors who do this work.
Your request is in.
We are matching it now against roofing contractors working in Garden Grove and the surrounding area.
- Today, usually within the hour. The first contractor calls or texts the number you gave us. ASAP requests go out first.
- Up to three of them, no more. We cap it at three so you can compare without your phone melting.
- They come and look. Estimates are given after somebody has been on the roof, not over the phone.
- You decide, or you do not. There is nothing to cancel and nothing to pay us.
If you do not hear anything today, check your voicemail and spam folder — contractors often call from a mobile number.
Before you let anybody on the roof
The things worth pinning down on a gutters job. A contractor who has not raised them has not looked properly.
- Where the water is discharged, and how far from the foundation
- Condition of the fascia behind the old gutter
- Number and position of downspouts
- Seamless or sectional, and what gauge of aluminium
- Gutter size against the roof area draining into it
Slope should be about a quarter inch per ten feet toward the outlet. Too little and it stands, too much and it looks wrong from the street.
Size matters more than people think. Five-inch gutter on a large steep roof will overshoot in heavy rain no matter how clean it is.
Downspouts are where most systems actually fail — too few of them, or discharging straight against the foundation.
Locally
The second problem is the marine layer keeping the north slope damp. It is why two identical houses on the same street can be ten years apart on the same roof, depending on which way they face.
About gutters here
What should I do to prepare?
Move the cars out, take pictures off the top-floor walls, cover anything stored in the attic, and put pets somewhere else for the loud days. Expect nails in the driveway however careful the crew is — ask whether they run a magnet at the end.
Do I need a permit?
Almost certainly, for a full replacement. The contractor should pull it, and the fee should be a visible line on the quote rather than a surprise.
Does being near the ocean change what goes on the roof?
Yes. The specification that matters here is metal, not shingle. Ask directly what the fasteners and flashings are made of; in salt air that answer decides how long the roof lasts far more than the brand of the covering.
Are the contractors licensed and insured?
Contractors have to give us their state licence number and proof of liability and workers compensation cover before they can receive requests. You should still ask to see current certificates yourself before work starts — a licence can lapse between checks.