Roof first, then gutters, ideally within the same week. Two parts of the roof that decide whether gutters work, the drip edge and the ice barrier, go on with the shingles, and the back of a new gutter has to tuck under that drip edge. Hang the gutters first and the roofers will lean ladders on them, drop bundles on them and leave the drip edge sitting in front of them.
The order
| Step | Why here |
|---|---|
| 1. Old gutters come down (if they are being replaced) | Exposes the fascia so it can be checked and fixed |
| 2. Fascia and soffit repairs | The board has to be sound before the drip edge or the gutter hangers go on it |
| 3. Roof, including drip edge and ice barrier | Both are part of the roof and both go on before anything hangs below them |
| 4. New gutters | The back of the gutter tucks under the new drip edge, and nothing else will land on them |
| 5. Downspouts and discharge | Last, so the new roof’s water has somewhere to go the day it rains |
If only one of the two is due, do that one. A sound roof over bad gutters wants gutters now. Bad shingles over decent gutters want a roof now, with the gutters checked afterwards to make sure they still sit behind the new drip edge.
Do the gutters have to come off for a re-roof?
Not usually. Roofers work around gutters that are in good shape, cover them, and keep their ladders on standoffs rather than on the trough. They come off when the fascia behind them needs replacing, since nothing can be done to the board with the gutter on it, and some roofers take them off anyway to run the ice barrier cleanly to the edge and get a look at the wood.
Either way, the roofers should clear their own debris out of the gutters before they leave. Shingle grit and nails end up in the trough and at the outlets, and a downspout that clogs the first week after a re-roof is almost always the roofer’s leftovers. That is a reasonable thing to write into the contract.
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Before the roofers arrive
Photograph every gutter run, every corner and every downspout, plus the fascia, the siding wherever a ladder will stand, and the landscaping under the eaves. Dents from shingle bundles and hangers loosened by ladders are the common damage, and they are easy to argue about after the fact and impossible to argue about with a dated photo.
Then ask one question and get the answer in writing: who is responsible if the gutters are damaged during the roof work? The honest answer is the roofer, and a good one will say so without being asked. On the last day, walk the eaves with the foreman before the final payment.
When fascia or soffit is involved
Rotten fascia changes the order, because the board can only be replaced with the gutters off and it has to be sound before the drip edge and the hangers go on it. That is why step two sits where it does. What that repair costs is usually the surprise line in a combined job, so ask for it priced per foot in advance.
Sioux Falls also changed one soffit rule worth knowing about: balanced soffit and ridge vents on their own satisfy the attic ventilation requirement here, so a re-roof is the moment to make sure the soffit intake is open.
The drip edge is the whole point
The residential code Sioux Falls enforces requires a drip edge along the eaves of shingle roofs, and an ice barrier from the eave to at least 24 inches inside the wall line. Both go on with the roof. The drip edge only does its job if the gutter sits behind it, and a gutter hung in front of it sends water down the fascia in every rain, which is the most common cause of water behind gutters on houses that have just been re-roofed.
If the old gutters are staying, have the roofer confirm they sit behind the new drip edge, or fit a gutter apron where they do not.
After a storm
Hail and wind often take the roof and the gutters together, and it makes sense to have both quoted at once so nothing is missed. Keep them as separate lines, though. Re-roofing in Sioux Falls needs a city permit and the city’s roofing license; gutter-only work needs neither. And the state rules that protect you on storm work, the ban on contractors paying your deductible and the 72-hour cancellation right, are written for roofing, so a gutter-only job may sit outside them. The checks that matter before signing with anyone who knocked on the door are the same for both trades.
One contractor or two
Many roofing companies offer gutters and then sub them out. That is fine if you know it. Ask who will actually hang the gutters, whose workmanship warranty covers them, and whether the gutter crew will be there the same week as the roofers. Two specialists coordinating is often better than one company treating the gutters as the afterthought at the end of a roof job, and the gutter quote should stand on its own whoever writes it.
Questions about roofs and gutters together
Should the roof or the gutters be replaced first?
Roof first, gutters right after. The drip edge and ice barrier go on with the roof, and the back of the new gutter has to tuck under that drip edge. Gutters hung before a re-roof also take a beating from ladders and shingle bundles.
Can a roof be replaced without removing the gutters?
Usually. Roofers work around sound gutters, cover them and keep ladders off them. They come off when the fascia needs replacing or when the roofer wants a clean run for the ice barrier. Either way the roofer should clear their own debris out afterwards.
Can gutters wait a few years if the roof is fine?
Yes. A new roof does not require new gutters. Just check that the existing gutters sit behind the new drip edge, because a gutter left in front of it will send water down the fascia.
Should the same contractor do the roof and the gutters?
It is simpler, but many roofers sub the gutters out. Ask who will actually hang them and whose warranty covers them. Two good specialists are better than one company doing the second job as an afterthought.
Who pays if the roofers damage the gutters?
Whoever the contract says. Get it in writing before the job, photograph every run beforehand, and walk the eaves with the roofer on the last day. Dented runs and loosened hangers are the usual damage.
Should storm-damaged roofing and gutters be quoted together?
Quote them together so nothing gets missed, but as separate lines. Roofing in Sioux Falls needs a city permit and license and gutters do not, and the state rules on deductibles and cancellation are written for roofing work.
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Tell us about the job, including whether a roof job is planned or already done, and a local gutter contractor will call, text or email to set up a visit. The quote is free.