Gutter Installation in Memphis, TN

Local know-how

Gutters in Memphis: what local homeowners should know

Memphis is one of the rainier large cities in the US, with more than 50 inches a year on average and strong spring storms. Clogged or undersized gutters overflow quickly, and the water collects around slab and crawl-space foundations in the area’s silty soils.

Neighborhoods like Midtown, East Memphis and Germantown are full of large oaks and magnolias. Magnolia leaves are big and leathery, and oak debris is constant, so guards and regular maintenance-free protection are popular upgrades.

Nearly 55 inches of rain

Memphis gets just under 55 inches of precipitation a year under the 1991–2020 normals, several inches more than under the previous normals. Spring storms, long rainy spells in winter and occasional tropical remnants add up. Intense downpours on big roofs are what Memphis gutters have to handle, and undersized or clogged gutters overflow onto foundations, flowerbeds and walkways.

Loess soil and foundations

Much of Memphis sits on loess, a wind-blown silt deposited along the Mississippi bluffs, which the U.S. Geological Survey describes as covering the uplands of the Memphis area to depths of several meters, over clay and sand. Loess is stable when dry but erodes easily and loses strength when saturated, and clay layers below swell and shrink with moisture. Roof water that pours out at a foundation corner soaks the soil, washes it away and contributes to settling.

That makes downspout discharge especially important here. Carry water at least 5 feet from the house onto ground that slopes away, protect bare soil from splash erosion and watch for gullies forming at outlets. See downspouts and your foundation.

Ice storms

Memphis sits where winter storms often bring freezing rain rather than snow. Winter Storm Landon in February 2022 left up to half an inch of ice across the area and was among the largest outage events in MLGW’s history. Ice adds weight to gutters and can pull poorly attached sections off the fascia, and ice-laden tree limbs fall on roofs and gutters. Strong hangers at close spacing and trimmed overhanging branches reduce the risk. See ice dams and gutters.

Big trees in old neighborhoods

Midtown, Central Gardens, Cooper-Young, Evergreen, East Memphis and Germantown are known for their tree canopy: oaks, maples, sweetgums, magnolias and pecans. Leaves fall for months, magnolia leaves are large and tough, and spring brings pollen and seed pods. Gutters under this canopy need guards or regular cleaning, and older homes with large overhangs often benefit from 6-inch gutters. See are gutter guards worth it?

Older homes and crawl spaces

Many Memphis homes built before the 1960s sit on crawl spaces or low basements. Roof water dumped next to these homes keeps the crawl space damp, which invites wood rot, termites and mold. Midtown bungalows and Tudors may also have built-in gutters or copper details that call for specialist repair. See box gutters on old homes and fascia repair before new gutters.

Typical costs in Memphis

These are published cost figures for orientation only, not quotes. City averages include smaller jobs such as partial runs; a full seamless system on a large or two-story home usually lands at the upper end of the range or above. The installer you are connected with measures your home and gives you the actual price.

We did not find a reliable published average for Memphis. Compare Nashville and our cost guide.

Tennessee home improvement license in Shelby County

Tennessee requires a Home Improvement license from the Board for Licensing Contractors for residential remodeling projects from $3,000 to less than $25,000 in counties that have adopted the home improvement law. Shelby County is one of them, along with Davidson, Knox, Hamilton and a few others. Larger projects need a full contractor license. For a gutter job in Memphis, Germantown, Collierville, Bartlett or Cordova in that price range, ask for the license number and verify it. North Mississippi and eastern Arkansas suburbs follow their own state rules.

Choosing gutters and guards for a Memphis home

• 6-inch gutters and 3x4-inch downspouts for heavy rain: downspout size and placement.
• Guards for oaks, magnolias and pecans: gutter guards.
• Discharge well away from loess and clay: downspouts and drainage.
• Strong hangers for ice storms: gutter hangers explained.

Independent installers take calls from across the Mid-South, including Memphis, Germantown, Collierville, Bartlett, Cordova, Arlington, Lakeland, Millington, Munford, Atoka, Covington and Oakland, as well as neighboring communities in North Mississippi and eastern Arkansas.

Sources

• Memphis Weather Blog: Meet the new normal in Memphis weather (NWS 1991–2020)
• U.S. Geological Survey: Geology and loess of the Memphis area
• MLGW: February 2022 winter storm restoration update
• Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors: Home improvement license
• Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors: Counties adopting the home improvement law
• HomeGuide: Seamless gutters cost
• Angi: How much do gutter guards cost?