How to Read a Gutter Warranty (and Not Get Fooled)

A gutter job usually comes with two different promises. The material warranty comes from the company that made the aluminum or the guards. It covers the product itself, such as paint peeling or metal failing. The workmanship warranty comes from the installer. It covers how the gutters were put up: seams, hangers, pitch and the connections. Most problems come from installation, not from the metal. So the workmanship warranty is the one to read closely.

When you see "lifetime warranty", ask:

Whose lifetime? Yours, the house's, or the product's?

Does it cover labor, or only replacement parts?

Is it prorated, so it covers less each year?

Does it end if you sell the house?

Does it require yearly cleaning or registration to stay valid?

A shorter warranty that clearly covers labor can be worth more than a "lifetime" one that covers only the metal.

The warranty should be on your estimate or invoice. It should say how long it lasts, what it covers, what it doesn't cover, and how to make a claim. If a promise was only spoken, it's hard to use later.

A warranty is only as good as the business that gives it. Ask how long the company has been doing this work. Ask whether the person giving the warranty is the person doing the install.

A real contractor can send you a certificate of insurance. If someone falls or your house is damaged during the job, that's what protects you.

Be careful with:

"Today only" prices.

Big cash deposits up front.

Quotes given without measuring.

Offers to "take care of" your insurance claim for you.

A good installer measures, explains, puts it in writing and gives you time to decide.

Eli's No Lie, Eli Warranty covers his workmanship for 2 years, and it stays with the house if you sell. He inspects every piece of material as it goes up, and the manufacturer's warranty on the materials passes to you. It's all on your invoice in plain words.