Why the two go together
- Gutters come down anyway. Siding crews usually remove gutters and downspouts to side the walls and wrap the fascia, and old gutters rarely go back up undamaged.
- Fascia and trim are shared. Siding projects often include new fascia or aluminum fascia wrap, which is exactly what gutters hang on. See fascia repair before new gutters.
- Colors should match. New siding with old, faded gutters looks unfinished. See how to choose gutter color.
- One disruption instead of two. One set of ladders and one cleanup.
- Water damage shows up. Removing siding often reveals rot and stains caused by overflowing gutters, which should be fixed at the source.
The right order of work
- Roof edge first (if the roof is also being replaced): drip edge and underlayment. See drip edge and gutter apron.
- Remove old gutters and downspouts.
- Repair fascia, soffit and rafter tails. Replace rotted wood before anything covers it.
- Install siding and trim, including fascia wrap and soffit.
- Install gutters and downspouts last, with hangers screwed through the new fascia into the rafter tails.
- Connect downspouts to drainage: extensions, splash blocks or buried lines.
Getting this order wrong causes problems: gutters hung before fascia wrap trap water behind the wrap; downspouts installed before siding end up with siding cut around them poorly; and rot covered by new trim keeps spreading.
Fascia wrap and gutters
Aluminum fascia wrap (coil stock bent over the wood fascia) is common with vinyl and fiber cement siding. It protects sound wood, but must never cover rot. Gutter hangers go through the wrap into the wood behind it; long screws into the rafter tails give the best hold. The wrap should tuck under the drip edge at the top, and the gutter should sit tight against it, so water cannot run behind.
Downspouts and siding
Downspouts are strapped to the wall. With new siding, the straps should be fastened through the siding into solid backing, with sealant at penetrations, and without pinning vinyl siding so tightly that it cannot expand. Locate downspouts before siding goes up where possible, so the crew can add backing and plan around them. Choose downspout locations for drainage, not just looks. See downspout size and placement.
Kick-out flashing
Where a roof edge meets a wall, for example where a garage roof runs into a second-story wall, a kick-out flashing directs water into the gutter instead of down the wall. Missing kick-outs are one of the most common causes of hidden rot behind siding. A siding project is the ideal time to add them, before the new siding covers the area. Ask both the siding and gutter crews about it.
Who should do which part?
Many exterior contractors handle both siding and gutters; others subcontract gutters to specialists. In Michigan, for example, “siding and gutters” is a single licensed trade for maintenance and alteration contractors, which reflects how often the two are done together. Either way, one company should be responsible for the order of work and the connection between siding, trim and gutters, so problems at the junction are not left between two contractors.
Choosing colors and materials
- Matching: gutters in the trim color are the most common choice; gutters matched to the siding blend in more.
- Contrast: dark gutters with light siding (or the reverse) can define the roofline on modern designs.
- Downspouts: often painted or ordered to match the siding color so they disappear against the wall.
- Materials: seamless aluminum is the most common pairing with vinyl and fiber cement; copper and half-round suit brick, stone and historic homes. See gutter materials compared.
Soffit vents and gutters
Siding projects often replace soffits too. Vented soffits are part of attic ventilation, which helps prevent ice dams. Make sure new soffit vents are not blocked by insulation inside the attic, and that the gutter and fascia details do not cover them. Good ventilation and air sealing keep the roof deck cold in winter and protect gutters from ice. See ice dams and gutters.
Warranties at the junction
Siding manufacturers, gutter manufacturers and installers each have their own warranties. Leaks where siding, trim and gutters meet can fall into gaps between them. Ask the contractor who warrants the junction, get it in writing and keep manufacturer documentation for siding, trim coil and gutters together. See gutter warranties explained.
Costs and savings
Doing gutters with siding usually saves the cost of removing and reinstalling old gutters and a separate mobilization. HomeGuide puts seamless aluminum gutters at about $6 to $12 per linear foot installed nationally. Fascia repair and wrap are typically priced per foot or per board. Get the gutter scope itemized in the siding estimate so you can compare. See our cost guide.
Timing within the season
Siding and gutter projects are usually best in spring through fall, when sealants and paints cure properly and crews can work safely on ladders and scaffolding. Plan the project so the house is not left without gutters for long periods in a rainy season, and ask the crew to install temporary downspout extensions or leave some gutters in place while work proceeds.
Questions to ask your contractor
- Will you remove and dispose of the old gutters, or reinstall them?
- How will rotten fascia and rafter tails be handled and priced?
- Will kick-out flashings be added at roof-to-wall intersections?
- What hangers and spacing will you use, and will they go into the rafter tails?
- Where will downspouts go, and how will they be attached through the new siding?
- Who warrants the junction between siding, trim and gutters?
Brick and stone homes
On brick, stone or stucco walls, the siding question does not come up, but fascia and trim work still does. Downspout straps should be anchored into mortar joints rather than the face of brick, and gutters should keep water off masonry, which is damaged by repeated wetting and freeze-thaw. See gutters on historic homes.
When not to combine them
If gutters were recently replaced and are in good condition, a careful siding crew can remove and reinstall them. Ask how they will be handled and who is responsible if they are damaged. If the siding project is years away and the gutters are failing now, replace the gutters now; water damage does not wait.