Eavestrough, the Canadian term for gutters, and downspouts catch roof runoff and carry it away from the house. On their own they're a minor, inexpensive system, but clogged, sagging, or poorly aimed eavestrough turns into one of the biggest drivers of the water problems buyers actually worry about.
$100 to $350 cleaning; $1,200 to $3,500+ full replacementAddress soonExteriorStructure
The quick answer
Eavestroughs are cheap parts protecting expensive ones: when they clog, sag, or dump water at the wall, that water ends up against the foundation, the most preventable cause of wet basements. Look for plant growth, tiger striping, detached downspouts, and missing extensions. Costs: $100 to $350 cleaning; $1,200 to $3,500+ full replacement. Clean them, aim the downspouts well away from the house, and check the basement corners below any overflow point.
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Free. No account. Educational and impartial, not a home inspection.
Why it matters
Overflowing or misdirected eavestrough sends water straight down the foundation wall instead of away from it, one of the most common causes of wet basements, closely related to negative grading. Sagging troughs or missing sections also let water run down siding and behind fascia, quietly rotting wood over years. It's a cheap system to maintain and an expensive one to ignore.
How to spot it
Sagging or pulling-away sections; visible rust, dents, or missing lengths; plant growth or debris overflowing the trough in listing photos; downspouts ending right at the foundation with no extension; staining on siding below joints.
What it costs
Professional cleaning runs roughly $100 to $350 per visit, recommended once or twice a year (gutter guards can cut that to about once a year). Full replacement, most often aluminum, runs about $20 to $45 per linear foot, or roughly $1,200 to $3,500+ for an average home; larger two-storey homes can run higher.
What to do
Cleaning and downspout extensions are inexpensive DIY-or-handyman fixes worth doing right away regardless of price. If troughs are visibly failing, rust-through, pulling off the fascia, missing sections, price in a full replacement, and check whether water has already caused foundation or siding damage nearby.
Education and triage, not a home inspection. Casaroo flags sagging, clogged, or poorly discharging eavestrough from your photos; a home inspector or exterior contractor confirms condition and any resulting damage. We flag; we don't inspect.
Common questions
Is eavestrough worth caring about when I am buying?
It is a cheap system that causes expensive problems. Overflowing or misdirected troughs send water straight down the foundation wall, and that is one of the most common causes of the wet basement you are trying to avoid.
What does replacement cost?
Cleaning runs $100 to $350 and full replacement $1,200 to $3,500+. Cleaning and adding downspout extensions are handyman-level jobs worth doing immediately regardless of what you negotiate.
Can I negotiate for new eavestrough?
It is a small ask and usually gets folded into a larger list. The stronger play is to look for what the failing trough has already done, rot behind the fascia, staining on siding, water at the foundation, because that is where the real money is.
Are gutter guards worth it?
They cut cleaning frequency to roughly once a year rather than twice, which matters most on a treed lot or a tall house where cleaning means hiring someone. They do not eliminate maintenance.
Last reviewed 2026-07-06.
This guide is general education, not a home inspection and not advice for your specific property. Always
consult the appropriate licensed professional, and get a licensed home inspection before you remove conditions
or buy. Cost ranges are 2026 estimates that vary by region, size, and access; confirm specifics with a
qualified professional.