What a gutter proposal is for
Customers call about leaking or sagging gutters and often have not considered downspout size, extensions or guards. Three options on the same house show the step from a replacement to a system that keeps water away from the foundation and cuts down on cleaning. It also lets the customer compare guards honestly.
What to put on a gutter proposal
- The same footage in each.
- Downspout size and extensions.
- Guards where included.
- Warranty differences.
- One acceptance line.
A worked example
The same 200-foot house. Gutter, downspout and removal lines use the calculator's typical prices.
Option 1: Good: new seamless gutters. New gutters and downspouts, old ones removed.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seamless aluminum gutter, 5 inch * | 200 | ft | $11.01 | $2,202.00 |
| Downspouts (5 × 10 ft) * | 50 | ft | $10.00 | $500.00 |
| Remove and haul away old gutters * | 200 | ft | $0.70 | $140.00 |
| Total before tax | $2,842.00 |
Option 2: Better: gutters with drainage. Adds downspout extensions to move water away from the foundation.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seamless aluminum gutter, 5 inch * | 200 | ft | $11.01 | $2,202.00 |
| Downspouts (5 × 10 ft) * | 50 | ft | $10.00 | $500.00 |
| Remove and haul away old gutters * | 200 | ft | $0.70 | $140.00 |
| Downspout extensions or buried drains | 40 | ft | Your price |
Option 3: Best: full system with guards. Adds micro-mesh guards to cut down on cleaning.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seamless aluminum gutter, 5 inch * | 200 | ft | $11.01 | $2,202.00 |
| Downspouts (5 × 10 ft) * | 50 | ft | $10.00 | $500.00 |
| Remove and haul away old gutters * | 200 | ft | $0.70 | $140.00 |
| Downspout extensions or buried drains | 40 | ft | Your price | |
| Gutter guards, micro-mesh | 200 | ft | Your price |
Be honest in the guard note: they cut cleaning, they do not end it. A customer who expects zero upkeep will call in a year.
* Typical price from our free gutter installation cost calculator, which lists its sources. Your own costs and market come first.
Line items gutter contractors use
| Line item | Unit | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| Seamless aluminum gutter | ft | Size (5 or 6 inch), gauge and color. |
| Downspouts | ft | Size and count; where each discharges. |
| Remove and haul away old gutters | ft | Including old hangers. |
| Gutter guards | ft | Type: screen, micro-mesh or reverse curve. |
| Hidden hangers | each | Spacing per your standard. |
| Fascia board repair | ft | Rotted fascia found when old gutters come off. |
| Downspout extensions or buried drains | ft | Moves water away from the foundation. |
| Gutter cleaning | ft | Per foot or per house; say whether downspouts are flushed. |
| Seal leaking seams and corners | each | Repairs on existing gutters. |
| Re-pitch sagging gutter | ft | Re-hang to drain properly. |
| Second story surcharge | ft | Ladder work above the first floor. |
| Copper or steel gutter | ft | Premium materials priced separately. |
Terms and deposit language for gutter
- Deposit. A deposit at signing reserves the install date and the gutter color. Check your state's rules on deposits.
- Payment. Due on completion, after the customer has seen the downspouts drain.
- Warranty. Say how long you cover leaks at seams and corners and hangers pulling loose, and that the coil maker covers the finish.
- Rotted fascia found when old gutters come off is repaired by change order before new gutters go up.
- Downspouts discharge where the customer agrees, away from the foundation and not onto a neighbor's property.
- Gutter guards reduce cleaning; say plainly that they do not remove the need for all maintenance.
How to fill it in
- Fill in the customer and the job.
- Check each option's name, its one-line difference and its lines.
- Add your prices; each option totals on its own.
- Set tax, the deposit and the good-until date.
- Print it, download it, or send it from Koira so the customer can pick and sign on the phone.
Free tools for gutter
- Gutter installation cost calculator
- Gutter cleaning cost calculator
- Roof measurement tool
- Satellite measuring tool
The same proposal for other trades: appliance repair, auto detailing, carpet cleaning, chimney, house cleaning, commercial cleaning, concrete, drywall, electrical, fence, flooring, garage door, general contractor, handyman, hvac, irrigation, junk removal, landscaping, lawn care, locksmith, moving, painting, pest control, plumbing, pool service, pressure washing, remodeling, roofing, septic, snow removal, solar, tree service, waterproofing, window cleaning.