If you’re planning a siding replacement for your Florida home, you’ve probably wondered whether you should replace your gutters at the same time. It’s a question we hear frequently from homeowners at A&E Remodeling, and the answer isn’t always straightforward. The decision depends on several factors unique to your home’s condition, your current gutter system, and your long-term exterior improvement goals.
As St. Petersburg’s premier exterior remodeling specialists, we’ve completed hundreds of siding and gutter projects throughout the Tampa Bay area over the past 25+ years. Through this experience, we’ve learned that making informed decisions about coordinating exterior updates can save homeowners significant money and prevent future repairs. In this guide, we’ll help you understand when it makes sense to replace gutters with new siding—and when you might be better off keeping your existing gutter system.
It Depends on Your Gutter Condition
The straightforward answer: If your gutters are more than 15 years old, showing signs of damage, or don’t match your new siding aesthetically, replacing them during your siding project typically makes excellent sense. However, if you have relatively new seamless gutters in good condition, you may be able to keep your home protected without the additional expense.
The key consideration is that a siding installation requires temporarily removing or working around your gutters. This creates a unique opportunity to replace your gutters with minimal additional labor costs—an opportunity that won’t exist once your new siding is installed. Understanding whether to replace both systems together can significantly impact your home’s protection and your return on investment.
Why This Question Matters for Florida Homeowners
Florida’s weather conditions create unique challenges that make the relationship between your siding and gutters particularly important. Our state receives over 50 inches of rainfall annually—significantly more than the national average—and our intense UV exposure, high humidity, and salt air (in coastal areas) accelerate deterioration of exterior components.
When you’re investing in premium siding to protect your home from these harsh conditions, it makes sense to ensure your entire water drainage system is equally robust. Old gutters that aren’t doing their job can undermine even the best siding by allowing water to cascade down exterior walls, leading to premature siding deterioration, fascia damage, water damage, and moisture intrusion that can cause rot and decay.
Additionally, coordinating both projects provides significant practical advantages:
Timing Efficiency: Both projects can be completed in a single construction period, minimizing disruption to your household and landscaping while helping you save time.
Cost Savings: Labor costs are reduced when contractors are already on-site working on your home’s exterior with scaffolding and equipment in place.
Aesthetic Coordination: New gutters can be perfectly matched to your new siding color and style, creating a cohesive, polished appearance that enhances curb appeal.
When You Should Replace Gutters with New Siding
Several situations strongly indicate that siding and gutter replacement together makes excellent sense:
Your Gutters Show Signs of Age or Damage
If your current gutters exhibit any of these warning signs, replacement during your siding job is highly recommended:
- Visible sagging or pulling away from the roofline where gutters are attached
- Rust, corrosion, or peeling paint indicating material deterioration
- Cracks, holes, or separated seams that leak and allow water to damage your exterior
- Overflowing during Florida’s heavy rainfall suggesting inadequate water flow through your gutters
- Water stains on siding beneath gutter lines indicating drainage problems
- Pooling water near your foundation threatening structural damage
- Dents or damage from storms or falling debris
- Accumulation of debris that prevents proper water drainage
These issues won’t improve with time, and addressing them proactively prevents the water damage that can compromise your new siding investment and keep your home protected from Florida’s intense weather.
Your Gutters Are More Than 15 Years Old
Even if your gutters appear functional, age matters—especially in Florida’s harsh climate. Standard sectional gutters typically last 15-20 years, while quality seamless gutters may last 20-25 years. However, Florida’s intense UV exposure, salt air (in coastal areas), and heavy rainfall can accelerate deterioration.
If your gutters are approaching or exceeding their expected lifespan, it might be time to replace them during your siding project. This is simply smart planning that prevents future repairs. You’ll avoid the expense and disruption of a separate gutter project in just a few years, and you’ll ensure your entire exterior protection system is renewed simultaneously.
You’re Upgrading to Premium Siding Materials
When investing in high-quality siding like James Hardie fiber cement—which can last 30+ years in Florida’s climate—it makes little sense to pair it with aging gutters that may fail within 5-10 years. The old saying “only as long as the siding lasts” applies here: matching the longevity of your components ensures your entire exterior system performs optimally for decades.
Additionally, premium siding deserves a gutter system with adequate capacity. Many older Florida homes have undersized 5″ gutters that overflow during heavy rainfall. Upgrading to 6″ or 7″ seamless gutters during your siding installation ensures your water management system can handle Florida’s torrential downpours and direct water away from your foundation effectively.
Aesthetic Coordination Is Important to You
New siding dramatically transforms the look of your home, but mismatched or deteriorating gutters can undermine this visual upgrade and impact curb appeal. If your current gutters are a different color, show visible wear, or simply don’t complement your new siding choice, replacing them creates a cohesive, finished appearance that maximizes your home’s value.
Modern seamless gutters are available in numerous colors that can be perfectly matched to your new siding—whether you’re installing vinyl siding, fiber cement, or other exterior materials—creating a polished, intentional new look that appears professionally designed rather than piecemeal.
Your Current Gutters Are Sectional Rather Than Seamless
If your home has older sectional gutters (gutters assembled from pre-cut sections with visible seams and joints), upgrading to seamless gutters during your siding project offers significant performance advantages:
- Fewer leak points: Seamless gutters have joints only at corners and downspouts
- Superior durability: Continuous construction withstands Florida weather better
- Improved appearance: Clean, uninterrupted lines enhance the exterior aesthetics
- Better capacity: Modern seamless systems typically offer larger profiles for improved water flow
The labor savings of coordinating this upgrade with your siding replacement often offset a significant portion of the gutter replacement cost.
Benefits of Replacing Both Together
Coordinating your siding and gutter replacement provides several compelling advantages beyond simple convenience:
Significant Labor Cost Savings
When a contractor is already working on your home’s exterior with scaffolding, equipment, and crews in place, adding gutter replacement to the project scope costs considerably less than scheduling it as a separate project later.
Removing old gutters before the siding installation and installing new gutters afterward requires minimal additional labor when it’s part of the same project. As a separate project, you’d pay for mobilization, setup, and teardown costs all over again—potentially adding 20-30% to the total gutter replacement cost. According to Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value Report, coordinating exterior projects typically provides better return on investment than completing them separately.
Superior Installation Quality
Coordinating both projects allows for optimal installation sequencing and integration:
Proper flashing installation: New siding installation provides the opportunity to install or upgrade drip edge and flashing that interfaces with your gutter system, creating superior water management and preventing leaks.
Fascia inspection and repair: Removing old gutters exposes your fascia boards and trim, allowing contractors to identify and repair any rot or damage before installing new siding and gutters. This prevents hidden decay from compromising your exterior.
Perfect alignment: Installing gutters after new siding ensures perfect alignment and proper clearances, preventing the installation challenges that can occur when working around existing gutters or siding first approaches.
Integrated water management: A professional contractor can design your entire exterior water management system holistically, ensuring downspouts placement complements your new siding and directs water away from vulnerable areas to protect your home.
Comprehensive Warranty Coverage
When a single contractor completes both your siding and gutter installation, you benefit from unified warranty coverage. If any issues arise related to how these systems interface—such as water intrusion at the siding-gutter junction or a gap that allows moisture into inside walls—there’s no question about which contractor is responsible for the repair.
At A&E Remodeling, we provide a lifetime workmanship warranty on both siding and gutter installations. When we complete both projects together, you have complete peace of mind that your entire exterior system is protected.
Minimized Disruption
Home improvement projects inevitably create some disruption to your daily routine and property. Coordinating siding and gutter replacement means your landscaping, outdoor living spaces, and household routine are disrupted once rather than twice—helping you save time and reducing the impact on the comfort of your home.
Additionally, you’ll avoid the risk of damage to your new siding during a subsequent gutter installation project—a legitimate concern when contractors need to work around freshly installed siding.
Enhanced Energy Efficiency and Comfort
While it may not be immediately obvious, properly functioning gutters and siding work together to improve your home’s energy efficiency. Quality siding helps insulate your home, keeping it warm in winter and cool during Florida’s hot summers. When combined with gutters that effectively manage water drainage, you prevent moisture infiltration that can compromise insulation and reduce energy efficiency.
Water that leaks behind siding due to failing gutters can saturate insulation, dramatically reducing its effectiveness and increasing your energy costs. Replacing both systems together ensures your home remains comfortable and energy-efficient year-round.
When You Might Keep Existing Gutters
Despite the advantages of coordinating both projects, there are situations where keeping your existing gutters makes practical sense:
Your Gutters Were Recently Installed
If you installed quality seamless gutters within the past 5-7 years and they’re functioning properly, replacement may be unnecessary. Modern seamless aluminum gutters can last 20-25 years in Florida when properly maintained, so relatively new systems likely have substantial life remaining.
However, even with newer gutters, consider whether they’re adequate for your needs. Many Florida homes have undersized gutters that overflow during heavy rainfall. If you’re experiencing overflow issues, your siding project provides an ideal opportunity to upgrade to larger-capacity gutters that better protect your home.
You Have Premium Gutter Guards Installed
If you’ve invested in high-quality gutter guards like micro-mesh systems, and both the gutters and guards are in good condition and effectively preventing debris accumulation, the cost of replacement may not be justified. Premium gutter guards can cost $15-30 per linear foot, representing a substantial investment you’d need to duplicate.
In this situation, carefully coordinate with your siding contractor to ensure the existing gutters are properly protected during the siding installation and reinstalled correctly afterward to maintain proper water flow through your gutters.
Budget Constraints Are a Primary Concern
Siding replacement represents a significant home improvement investment, and budget limitations are a legitimate consideration. If your existing gutters are functional (even if not ideal), and replacing them would strain your budget, it’s reasonable to defer gutter replacement to a future project.
However, consider this decision carefully. The labor cost savings of coordinating both projects often mean that replacing gutters later as a separate project will cost 20-30% more than including them with your siding installation. Sometimes, financing a slightly larger renovation now saves money in the long run and provides better return on investment. Ask about a free estimate for both projects to understand the true cost difference.
Your Gutters Function Properly and Match Your New Siding
If your existing gutters are seamless aluminum in good condition, have adequate capacity for Florida’s rainfall, effectively flow water away from your foundation, and happen to match or complement your new siding color, there may be little practical or aesthetic reason to replace your gutters.
In this scenario, ensure your siding contractor takes appropriate care during installation to avoid damaging your gutters, and verify they’ll be properly reinstalled with correct pitch and secure mounting where gutters are attached to the fascia.
What A&E Remodeling Recommends
As building contractors with over 25 years of experience protecting Florida homes, we take a comprehensive, honest approach to this question. During your consultation, we’ll thoroughly assess both your siding and gutter systems to provide personalized recommendations based on your specific situation.
Our Professional Assessment Process
When evaluating whether you should replace gutters with new siding, we examine:
Gutter age and condition: We inspect for structural integrity, proper function, signs of leak or rot, and remaining lifespan
Capacity adequacy: We evaluate whether your current gutter size handles Florida’s heavy rainfall effectively or if water drainage issues exist
Aesthetic coordination: We consider how existing gutters will look with your new siding choice and impact the overall look of your home
Underlying issues: We check fascia, trim, and soffit condition that may only be visible when gutters are removed, looking for signs of decay or water damage
Roof interface: We examine how your roof, including shingle condition and drip edge, interfaces with gutters to ensure complete water management
Long-term value: We calculate the cost difference between replacing now versus as a separate future project and discuss return on investment
Our Builder-Level Perspective
Unlike contractors who specialize only in siding or only in gutters, our background as building contractors gives us a comprehensive understanding of how these systems interact to protect your home. We don’t recommend gutter replacement to increase our project scope—we recommend it when it genuinely makes sense for your home’s protection and your long-term value.
If your gutters are in good condition and replacement doesn’t provide clear benefits, we’ll tell you honestly. However, if we identify issues that could compromise your new siding investment or if coordinating both projects offers significant advantages, we’ll explain exactly why. When it’s time to replace your siding, we’ll help you understand whether it’s also time to replace your gutters.
Florida-Specific Considerations
Our decades of experience in Florida’s unique climate inform our recommendations:
Hurricane resistance: We ensure both siding and gutters are installed to withstand high winds and heavy rainfall that characterize Florida weather conditions
Moisture management: We design integrated systems that prevent water intrusion in Florida’s high-humidity environment, protecting against rot and structural damage
UV protection: We recommend materials and finishes that resist fading from intense sun exposure
Capacity planning: We ensure gutter systems can handle Florida’s torrential downpours without overflow, keeping water away from your foundation
Material selection: We guide you through options including vinyl siding, fiber cement, and various types of gutters to find the best fit for your home and budget
This climate-specific expertise ensures your entire exterior system performs optimally for decades in Florida’s challenging conditions.
The Installation Sequence That Matters
Understanding the proper installation sequence helps explain why coordinating siding and gutter projects offers advantages:
Step 1: Remove Old Gutters
Before the siding installation begins, existing gutters are carefully removed. This exposes the fascia boards and trim and allows contractors to inspect for any hidden damage or rot that needs repair before new siding is installed.
Step 2: Inspect and Repair Fascia and Trim
With gutters removed, fascia boards and exterior trim are thoroughly inspected. Any damaged, rotted, or deteriorated sections are repaired or replaced. This critical step is often impossible to complete thoroughly when gutters remain in place, and it prevents future repairs by addressing hidden issues.
If your roof requires attention, this is also an ideal time to coordinate any necessary roof work, ensuring that your roof, siding, and gutters all work together seamlessly. While you may not need a new roof, checking the condition of shingles and drip edge ensures complete home protection.
Step 3: Install New Siding
With a clean work area and repaired substrate, new siding is installed according to manufacturer specifications. Proper siding installation includes water-resistant barriers, flashing to prevent leaks, and careful attention to how the siding will interface with gutters. Whether you’re installing vinyl siding, fiber cement, or other materials, the installation process ensures your home is properly protected and insulated.
Step 4: Install New Gutters
After the siding installation is complete, new gutters are installed with proper pitch, secure mounting to fascia where gutters are attached, and correct positioning relative to the new siding and drip edge. This sequence ensures optimal water management and prevents installation conflicts that could create a gap or compromise the system.
Why This Sequence Matters
Installing gutters or siding in the wrong order creates challenges: contractors must work carefully around gutters to avoid damage, and achieving proper siding-to-gutter clearances becomes difficult. Installing siding around existing gutters also makes it nearly impossible to properly inspect and repair fascia and trim.
Conversely, installing new gutters after siding is complete allows for perfect alignment, proper clearances, and confidence that the fascia substrate is sound. This is precisely why coordinating both projects produces superior results and helps make your home more durable and protected.
Understanding the Types of Gutters for Your Home
When replacing your siding and considering new gutters, understanding the different types of gutters available helps you make an informed decision:
Seamless Aluminum Gutters
Seamless gutters are the most popular choice for Florida homes. Custom-fabricated on-site to fit your home’s exact dimensions, they minimize leak points and provide superior water drainage. Aluminum resists rust and corrosion, making it ideal for Florida’s humid climate and coastal areas.
Vinyl Gutters
Vinyl gutters offer an affordable option that won’t rust or corrode. However, Florida’s intense UV exposure can cause vinyl to become brittle over time. If you’re installing vinyl siding, vinyl gutters can provide a coordinated look, though aluminum typically offers better longevity.
Sectional vs. Seamless Systems
Sectional gutters are assembled from pre-cut pieces and have multiple seams where sections connect. These seams are potential leak points and require more maintenance. Seamless systems, fabricated as continuous pieces, eliminate most seams and provide superior performance—making them the better choice when replacing your siding and upgrading your gutter system.
How Gutters and Siding Work Together to Protect Your Home
Your home’s exterior is an integrated system where each component plays a vital role. Understanding how gutters and siding work together helps you appreciate why coordinating their replacement makes sense:
Water Management System
Gutters collect water from your roof and direct it away from your foundation through downspouts. Quality siding provides a weather-resistant barrier that protects your home’s structure. When gutters fail or overflow, water cascades down siding, potentially finding its way behind the exterior through any gap or vulnerability.
This water infiltration can cause rot in the underlying structure, compromise insulation, and lead to costly structural damage. Ensuring both your siding and gutters function optimally keeps your home protected from water damage.
Preventing Rot and Decay
When water flows behind siding due to gutter overflow or leaks, it saturates the wood framing and sheathing. This constant moisture creates ideal conditions for rot and decay that can compromise your home’s structural integrity. By the time you notice signs of damage on the interior—such as stains on inside walls or ceiling discoloration—significant decay may have already occurred.
Replacing both gutters and siding together allows your contractor to identify and repair any existing rot before it becomes a major structural issue, and ensures your new system prevents future water damage.
Maintaining Curb Appeal
Beyond protection, your gutters and siding are the most visible elements of your home’s exterior. Coordinating their replacement ensures a cohesive aesthetic that enhances curb appeal and maintains your home’s value. Mismatched, aging gutters can diminish the impact of beautiful new siding, while coordinated systems create a polished, well-maintained appearance.
Trust A&E Remodeling for Your Florida Home Exterior
A&E Remodeling has been protecting Florida homes since 1995, and we bring builder-level expertise to every siding and gutter project. We’re fully licensed (CBC031923 & CGC1504594) and insured, and we’re certified James Hardie partners with specialized training in fiber cement installation.
Our comprehensive approach to exterior remodeling means we evaluate your entire home protection system, not just individual components. We provide a lifetime workmanship warranty on both siding and gutter installations, and our stable, locally-focused team has been serving the same Tampa Bay communities for over 25 years—we’ll be here when you need us for future repairs or additional home improvement projects.
When you hire a professional contractor with our experience, you’re investing in quality workmanship that ensures your home remains protected, comfortable, and beautiful for decades to come.
Ready to Protect Your Florida Home?
Whether you’re certain you need both siding and gutter replacement or you’re still evaluating your options, A&E Remodeling can help you make the best decision for your home and budget. We’ll provide an honest assessment of your current systems and clear recommendations based on our 25+ years of Florida experience.
Don’t let aging siding and gutters put your home at risk from Florida’s harsh weather conditions. Contact us today for a free estimate and no-obligation consultation. Discover how coordinating your exterior updates can save you money, save time, and provide superior protection that keeps your home safe and comfortable.
Call us at (727) 329-8107 or schedule your free consultation online. We serve St. Petersburg and the entire Tampa Bay area with the expertise and integrity you deserve. Let us help you make your home more beautiful, protected, and valuable with professional siding and gutter installation.