What are the signs you need new gutters?
Short answer: Replace gutters when you see sagging or gutters pulling away from the house, leaking seams, rust or cracks, water spilling over the sides in heavy rain, peeling paint or rot on the fascia behind them, or water pooling near your foundation. One or two problems can often be repaired; several together usually mean it's time for new gutters.
The warning signs, one by one
Walk around your home during or right after a heavy rain and look for:
- Sagging runs or gutters pulling away from the fascia
- Drips or streaks at seams and corners
- Rust spots, cracks or holes
- Water spilling over the front edge even when the gutters are clean
- Peeling paint, soft spots or rot on the fascia boards
- Downspouts emptying right next to the foundation, or puddles and washed-out mulch there
- Dents after a hail storm
Repair or replace?
A leaking seam, a loose hanger or a single dented section can usually be repaired. When gutters sag in several places, leak at many seams, are rusting through, or keep overflowing because they're undersized, replacing the system is usually the better value.
Fix the fascia at the same time
Overflowing gutters soak the fascia board they hang on. If the fascia is soft or rotted, it should be replaced before new gutters go up, or the new gutters won't hold.
Where we do gutter work
We install and repair gutters and downspouts in both Missouri and the Illinois Metro East, including Waterloo, Columbia, Belleville, Edwardsville and St. Louis-area Missouri towns.
Answered by Mike Williamson, RoofingnearmeSTL. Published October 20, 2026.