Portland gutter companies: how to judge one, and how we work

How we work

We climb before we quote. The estimate comes from a ladder, with a screwdriver in the fascia and a look down each downspout, not from a tape measure in the driveway. The written number is what you pay. The one exception is rot that could not be seen until the old gutter came off, and you see that before we cut anything.

We build for a wet climate. That means .032 aluminum, screw hangers into the rafter tails, outlets cut to fit 3x4 downspouts, a drip edge where the roof has none, and a gutter that is pitched to drain rather than to hold a moss garden. A gutter in Portland is wet for eight months; it has to be built to be wet.

We tell you when you do not need us. If a $200 re-pitch fixes it, that is the job. Gutters with five good years in them get five more years, and we come back then. Repair is on the estimate next to replacement so you can compare.

What to demand from any gutter contractor in Oregon

Oregon is one of the stricter states for contractor licensing, and that works in your favor. Anyone doing construction work on your home for pay — gutters included — must hold a license from the Oregon Construction Contractors Board. A license means a surety bond and general liability insurance are on file with the state, the business passed a pre-license exam, and you have a formal complaint process if something goes wrong.

So whether you are after the best gutter company Portland has or just one that answers the phone, the checklist is short:

1. Ask for the CCB number and look it up on the CCB website. It shows the license status, the bond, the insurance and any complaints.
2. Get the price in writing with the gauge, hanger type, downspout size and what is included. For jobs over $2,000 Oregon requires a written contract anyway.
3. Ask what happens to the water at the bottom of each downspout. A company that has no answer has not thought about your basement.
4. Ask how they handle fascia. If the answer is "we just hang over it," the rot stays.

We carry our CCB license and will give you the number before the crew arrives. If a company will not, that is your answer.

Where we are

Based in Portland, working across Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties — St. Johns to Sellwood, the West Hills to Gresham, Beaverton and Hillsboro to the west, Tigard, Tualatin, Lake Oswego, West Linn and Oregon City to the south, Milwaukie in between. We cross into Vancouver WA for larger jobs. Area codes 503 and 971.

Call, text or send us the details. Looking costs nothing and the number we give you holds for 30 days. If you want to read before you call, the Advice section covers most of what we get asked, from why gutters overflow in Portland rain to what a seamless quote should include.