Evanston's tree canopy — some of the densest in northern Illinois — is a gift to the city's character and a constant test of any gutter system. We oversize our gutters and downspouts, mount them with hidden hangers every 24 inches, and pitch them to a true 1/4-inch per 10 feet so they actually drain instead of pooling and ice-damming.
Our standard residential spec
6-inch seamless K-style aluminum gutters in 0.032-gauge minimum (we never install 0.027 builder-grade), hidden hangers every 24 inches with stainless screws into the fascia (no nails, no spike-and-ferrule), 3x4 oversized downspouts on every drop (the standard 2x3 downspout cannot handle Evanston's tree debris), and properly sized splash blocks or underground extensions to move water at least 6 feet from the foundation.
Copper for historic homes
Half-round copper gutters with round copper downspouts are the historically correct choice for Lakeshore Historic District homes and many Tudor revivals across the city. We fabricate copper on site, solder every joint, and install with copper hangers that age into the same patina as the gutters themselves.
Gutter guards — when they work and when they don't
Micro-mesh guards work in our climate. Foam inserts and slatted reverse-curve guards do not — they clog with maple seed pods and ice up at the eaves. We install only stainless micro-mesh systems with a written 10-year clog-free guarantee.
What you get with us
- 6-inch K-style or copper half-round options
- 0.032-gauge minimum (never builder-grade 0.027)
- Hidden hangers every 24 inches, never spike-and-ferrule
- Oversized 3x4 downspouts standard, 4x5 available for heavy tree loads
Questions Evanston homeowners ask about gutters.
How long do seamless aluminum gutters last in Evanston?+
Properly installed 0.032-gauge aluminum gutters last 25 to 35 years here. Copper lasts 60-plus. The hangers and downspout strapping tend to fail before the gutters themselves, which is why we use stainless throughout.
Do gutter guards really keep gutters clean?+
Stainless micro-mesh guards keep out leaves, pine needles, and most seed pods, but no guard system is fully maintenance-free in a city with this much tree cover. Plan on a once-a-year rinse.
How much do new gutters cost in Evanston?+
A typical single-family home (180 linear feet) runs $1,950 to $2,950 for 6-inch aluminum. Copper on a similar home runs $9,500 to $14,000 installed.