Gutters, soffit and fascia that move Fayetteville's rain away from the house
About 47 inches of rain falls on Fayetteville in a typical year, with July the wettest month. Gutters carry that water off the roof edge. When they sag, clog or overflow, the fascia behind them rots and the soffit lets in more than air.
Gutter trouble is usually visible from the lawn once you know what to look for. Sectional gutters leak at their seams and corners. Spikes work loose, a run sags, and the pitch reverses so water pools in the middle instead of heading for the downspout. Pine needles and oak leaves pack the downspouts and outlets, and the gutter fills and spills over the back edge, straight onto the fascia board. Years of that and the fascia goes soft, the gutter hangers lose their grip, and water finds its way into the soffit and the top of the wall.
Our standard replacement is seamless aluminum, formed on site in one piece for each run, so there are no joints in the middle to fail. It hangs on hidden hangers screwed into sound fascia, pitched toward downspouts sized for summer downpours, with extensions that carry the water away from the foundation instead of dumping it beside the crawl space. Leaf guards are a judgment call around here: some screens let pine needles through and others let them mat on top. We will tell you which style suits your trees and whether a cleaning visit twice a year is simply cheaper.
Behind the gutter, the trim matters as much as the metal. Soft fascia gets cut out and replaced before anything new is hung, then wrapped so water stays off the wood. Soffit panels under the eaves do two jobs: they close the roof overhang against birds, squirrels and wasps, and when vented they are the intake half of your attic's airflow. Blocked or solid soffits are a common reason an attic runs hot; see attic ventilation. Missing drip edge at the roof edge lets water run behind the gutter, so we add it where it is absent.
If a new roof is on the horizon, plan gutters with it. New drip edge goes on with the shingles, and the gutter should be hung to work with that edge, so doing both together saves a second trip and a second set of ladder marks.
What the job covers
Seamless runs
Aluminum gutters formed on site to the length of each run, so there are no seams in the middle to leak.
Hangers, not spikes
Hidden hangers screwed into sound fascia keep the gutter pitched toward the downspout.
Downspouts that keep up
Sized and placed for summer storms, with extensions that move water away from the foundation.
Rotten fascia replaced
Soft boards cut out and replaced before new gutters go up, then wrapped to keep water off the wood.
Soffit that breathes
Vented soffit restored where the attic needs intake air, and gaps closed against birds and squirrels.
Drip edge in place
Metal at the roof edge so water drops into the gutter instead of running behind it.
What gutter and trim work costs
| Work | Budget range | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Gutter installation, typical home | $622 – $1,677 | Bob Vila; national average about $1,135 |
| Aluminum gutters, per linear foot | $4 – $14 | Material and style drive the range |
| Seamless gutter labor, per foot | $3 – $10 | Formed on site |
| Full seamless gutter system | $800 – $5,000 | Size of the house and number of downspouts |
| Fascia board replacement | Quoted by the foot | Depends on how much has rotted |
| Soffit repair or vented soffit | Quoted after inspection | Often paired with ventilation work |
Gutter figures are national ranges published by Bob Vila. Fascia and soffit are priced after we see how much wood is soft, and every number is written down before work is booked.
On the job
Gutters, soffit and fascia: what people ask us
Do I need gutter guards with all these pines?
Pine needles slip through some screens and mat on top of others. Some guards handle needles better than others; we will tell you which suit your trees, and whether cleaning twice a year costs less.
Why does my gutter overflow in the middle?
Usually the gutter has lost its pitch, a hanger has failed, or the downspout is clogged. Overflow behind the gutter is the one to fix quickly, because it rots the fascia.
Should gutters be done before or after a new roof?
After, or at the same time. New drip edge goes on with the roof, and the gutter should be hung to work with it.
What is fascia, and why is mine soft?
Fascia is the board along the roof edge that the gutter hangs on. When water gets behind the gutter for years, the wood rots. We replace the soft sections before hanging anything new.
Do you put on downspout extensions?
Yes. Water dumped next to the house ends up in the crawl space or against the slab, so we carry it away.
Can you match my existing gutter color?
Usually. Aluminum gutters come in a range of standard colors, and we bring the chart to the house.