Gutter Repair in Iowa

Local know-how

Prairie storms, hail and cold winters

Iowa gutters face severe summer storms with hail and straight-line winds; the August 2020 derecho caused enormous damage in Cedar Rapids and across the eastern half of the state. Winters bring snow, freeze-thaw and ice dams, and spring brings heavy rain on frozen or saturated ground.

Older homes in Des Moines, Davenport, Dubuque and smaller towns across the state have mature trees and original or second-generation gutters, often fastened to fascia that has softened. Newer suburbs around Des Moines, Iowa City and Cedar Rapids have larger homes with long gutter runs and builder gutters that are often undersized.

River towns know flooding well. Cedar Rapids and Iowa City both saw major floods in 2008, and towns along the Mississippi and Des Moines rivers have their own history of high water. Gutters cannot prevent river flooding, but they can keep roof water from adding to basement problems in ordinary storms.

Most Iowa homes have basements, so downspout discharge matters. Extensions that carry water six feet or more from the foundation, with soil graded away from the wall, are one of the simplest ways to keep a basement dry.

Des Moines and its suburbs

Des Moines neighborhoods such as Beaverdale, known for its brick homes from the 1920s and 1930s, Sherman Hill with its Victorians, and Drake near the university have mature trees and older gutters. West Des Moines, Ankeny, Johnston, Urbandale and Waukee have grown rapidly with large new subdivisions. Spring storms, summer hail and winter ice all take a toll on gutters across the metro.

Cedar Rapids and the 2020 derecho

The August 2020 derecho swept across Iowa with winds over 100 miles per hour in places, and Cedar Rapids lost a large share of its tree canopy in under an hour. Thousands of homes had roofs, siding and gutters damaged, and many were replaced the same year. The loss of trees means fewer leaves in some neighborhoods, but newly planted trees will change that over time.

The Quad Cities and Dubuque

Davenport, Bettendorf and the Quad Cities sit on the Mississippi, and Davenport is notable for having no permanent floodwall along much of its riverfront. Dubuque, further north, is built on steep bluffs above the river, with Victorian homes and long staircases. Downspouts on bluff homes need careful routing to avoid erosion.

Sioux City and the Loess Hills

Sioux City and western Iowa sit along the Loess Hills, unusual ridges of wind-deposited silt that erode quickly when water runs over them. Homes on these slopes should pipe downspout water to stable outlets. The Missouri River bottomlands below are flat and prone to flooding.

Iowa City, Ames and the university towns

Iowa City and Ames have older neighborhoods near their universities with many rental homes, plus growing suburbs. Coralville and North Liberty near Iowa City have grown fast. Landlords often schedule gutter cleaning in December after the leaves are down.

Black walnuts, maples and Iowa debris

Iowa yards often have black walnut, silver maple, oak and cottonwood trees. Walnut husks stain and block gutters in autumn, maple seeds pile up in spring, and cottonwood fluff clogs screens in June. Under these trees, two or three cleanings a year are common.

Hiring in Iowa

Iowa requires contractors who earn above a small annual threshold to register with the Division of Labor. Request a copy of the insurance policy and a line-by-line price. One call from Des Moines, Cedar Rapids or the Quad Cities connects homeowners with a registered local installer.

Iowa's housing stock

Across Iowa's small towns and cities, many homes are one-and-a-half-story frame houses from the early twentieth century, with steep roofs, dormers and half-story bedrooms under the eaves. These houses are prone to ice dams because there is little room for insulation where the roof meets the walls. Ranch homes from the 1950s to 1970s are the other common type, with long, low eaves. Both benefit from extra downspouts and well-fastened hangers.

Winter in Iowa

Iowa winters bring snow, bitter wind chills and freeze-thaw cycles, especially in late winter. Gutters packed with ice pull away from the fascia, and downspouts split at the elbows. Clearing gutters in November, before the ground freezes, and keeping downspouts open through the winter helps meltwater drain. A roof rake can clear snow from the lower edge after big storms.

Spring rain on frozen ground

When spring rain falls on frozen or saturated ground in March and April, it cannot soak in, and water flows toward basements. Many Iowa basements take on water at this time of year. Downspout extensions that discharge well out into the yard, clear window wells and a working sump pump with its own discharge line are the main defenses.

Waterloo, Cedar Falls and Mason City

Waterloo and Cedar Falls in northeast Iowa sit on the Cedar River, which flooded severely in 2008. Mason City has a notable collection of Prairie School homes, including a Frank Lloyd Wright house. Winters in north Iowa are colder and snowier than in the south.

Choosing gutters in Iowa

Seamless aluminum in 6-inch width with 3x4 downspouts suits most Iowa homes and handles summer storms. Heavier gauge resists hail. Hidden hangers screwed into solid fascia every two feet hold up best under ice.

Ice dams on Iowa farmhouses

Many Iowa farmhouses were built before insulation was common, and later additions often have different roof pitches and insulation levels. Ice dams form where a warm addition meets a cold porch roof, and the gutter at that junction takes the worst of it. Air sealing the attic, adding insulation and fitting heat cable on the problem section are common steps.

Storm photos for Iowa claims

After a hail or wind event, take photos of each side of the house from the ground, showing gutters, downspouts and any dents or loose sections, along with the date. Insurance adjusters in Iowa see many claims after big storms, and clear evidence speeds things up.

Council Bluffs and southwest Iowa

Council Bluffs sits across the Missouri from Omaha at the foot of the Loess Hills, with older homes on steep streets and newer development on the flat river bottom. The 2011 Missouri River flood threatened the city for months. Downspouts on hillside homes should be carried to stable ground, and those on the flats should discharge well clear of basement walls.

Ankeny and Waukee

Ankeny and Waukee are among Iowa's fastest-growing suburbs, with many young trees that will drop more each year.

Burlington and Fort Madison

Burlington and Fort Madison sit on bluffs above the Mississippi in southeast Iowa.