Do I need new gutters with a new roof?
The decision
| Your gutters | Do this |
|---|---|
| Under ~10 yrs, sound, draining well | ✅ Keep — just protect them during the roof |
| 10–15 yrs, minor issues | ⚠️ Get both quotes; the bundle discount often decides it |
| 15+ yrs, sagging or leaking seams | ❌ Replace during the roof |
| Vinyl or rusting steel | ❌ Replace — see material guide |
| No drip edge, water running behind | ❌ Fix during the roof — this is the moment |
| Fascia soft behind them | ❌ Fix now — it's exposed and accessible |
Why the roof is the moment
Three things are true only while the roof is off:
The drip edge is accessible. Drip edge goes under the shingles — meaning during a roof it's a trivial addition, and after a roof it's either a gutter apron retrofit or a torn-up shingle course. If water currently runs behind your gutters, this is the one chance to fix it right. See gutter apron vs drip edge.
The fascia is exposed. With the gutters down and the roof edge open, soft fascia is visible and cheap to fix. Discovering it two years later means paying for the access all over again. See fascia repair cost.
The setup is already paid for. Staging, ladders, dumpster, crew mobilization — bundling gutters onto that is typically 10–20% cheaper than the same work as a standalone job later.
Order of operations
Roof first, gutters after — or both from one contractor as a single job. Never new gutters first. The roofers need the edge clear to run drip edge and the starter course, so brand-new gutters would either come straight back off or get worked around badly. It's the most common sequencing mistake and it costs people their new gutters' finish.
The damage conversation — have it in writing
If you're keeping your gutters, understand what's about to happen to them: ladders lean on them, shingle debris and old nails land in them, and they get detached and rehung. Dents, bent lips, and pulled hangers are routine outcomes, and afterward it becomes an argument about who did what.
Ask before the job, in the contract: "Who's responsible if a gutter is damaged during the roof?" A good roofer answers immediately and puts it in writing. The answer you get before work starts is very different from the one you get after.
And ask them to clean the gutters when they're done. A roof tear-off fills them with granules, nail fragments, and shingle debris — which is a clog you paid for.
The warranty trap
This one catches people. Many gutter workmanship warranties are void if anyone other than the original installer detaches the gutters — and a roofer taking them down to run drip edge is exactly that. If your gutters are still under warranty, call the gutter company before the roof starts and ask how to preserve it. Sometimes they'll do the detach/rehang themselves for a small fee, which is cheap insurance. See gutter warranty guide.
Cost if you bundle
Gutters run $1,400–$3,800 standalone for a typical NJ home. Bundled into a roof, expect roughly 10–20% less on the gutter portion — the savings are in shared setup, not materials. Get it itemized: you want to see the gutter line separately so you can compare it to a standalone quote and know you're actually getting the discount.
One contractor or two?
One is simpler and there's nobody to blame anybody else — but only if they're genuinely good at both. Plenty of roofers treat gutters as an afterthought. Two gets you a real gutter specialist, at the cost of coordinating the sequence yourself. On our town pages we flag which companies are dedicated gutter specialists versus roofers who also do gutters — that distinction is exactly what this decision hinges on.
See who specializes in gutters near you →
FAQ
Do I need new gutters with a new roof?
Not automatically. If your gutters are sound, under about 15 years old, and correctly pitched, keep them. But if they are near end of life, replacing them during the roof is meaningfully cheaper and avoids paying twice for the same access and setup.
Should gutters be replaced before or after a new roof?
After the roof, or as part of the same job. Roofers need the roof edge accessible to install drip edge and the first shingle course, and new gutters installed first will get damaged or have to come off anyway.
Will a roofer damage my gutters?
It is common. Gutters get dented by ladders, hit by falling shingle debris, and bent when detached and rehung. Ask in writing who is responsible if a gutter is damaged during the roof — the answer before the job is very different from the answer after.
Does a new roof void my gutter warranty?
It can. Many gutter workmanship warranties are void if anyone other than the original installer touches the gutters, and a roofer detaching and rehanging them counts. Check before the roof starts, not after.
Related: Apron vs drip edge · Signs you need new gutters · Installation cost