31 Years on the Ladder. Now Sharing the View.
Hi, I’m C. David Chase. For 31 years I owned and operated a full-service guttering contractor business in Tennessee. I have installed seamless aluminum on production builds, fabricated copper half-round on historical restorations, and diagnosed foundation flooding traced back to a single downspout positioned six inches from a foundation wall. I have also tested enough gutter guard products to know exactly which claims hold up in the field and which ones do not survive their first Tennessee thunderstorm. That accumulated experience is the foundation every guide on this site is built on.
When I stepped back from active work as a guttering contractor, the gap I kept seeing was not a shortage of home improvement content — it was a shortage of content written by someone who had actually done the work. Guttering.com exists to close that gap.
What This Site Covers
Installation Guides from an Experienced Guttering Contractor
Full sequencing, correct pitch math, material specifications, and the field techniques that separate a system built to last from one that fails within three seasons. Written for both the serious DIYer and the professional installer who wants a reliable technical reference built on real guttering contractor field experience.
- Pitch calculation for single-outlet and dual-outlet runs including long-run slope math
- Hanger type and spacing by material, gutter profile, and regional climate load
- Miter cutting and fitting for K-style and half-round profiles including 22.5-degree bay window geometry
- Downspout sizing and placement for correct drainage volume management
- Roof overhang clearance standards — the critical alignment specifications a professional guttering contractor applies on every installation, referencing engineering standards established by ARMA and SMACNA.
Gutter Guard Reviews
Every product reviewed on this site is evaluated against one question: does it actually keep the gutter clear under the debris load and weather conditions it claims to handle? Commission rates and brand relationships do not influence that answer — the same standard any honest guttering contractor applies when specifying products for a paying client.
- Performance by debris type — pine needles, maple seeds, shingle grit, and fine sediment each expose different failure modes in different guard types
- Roof warranty impact — which systems void manufacturer shingle warranties and what the warranty language actually says
- Structural longevity — which products hold their shape and attachment over multiple seasons and which do not
For a complete breakdown of the high-performance setups I recommend, check out my Contractor’s Toolbox for the best micro-mesh gutter guards on the market.
Repair and Maintenance Guides from a 31-year Guttering Contractor
Root cause first, fix second. Every repair guide identifies the failure mechanism before presenting the repair sequence — because a fix that addresses the symptom without correcting the cause is a callback waiting to happen. This is the diagnostic standard every competent guttering contractor applies before picking up a caulk gun or a rivet tool.
- Leak diagnosis by location — miter joints, end caps, outlet tubes, and seam splits each have distinct causes and distinct correct repairs
- Sealant selection by substrate — what bonds correctly to aluminum, copper, and galvanized steel through freeze-thaw cycling
- Pitch correction and re-hanging for runs that have settled, shifted, or were installed incorrectly from the start
If you want to master the art of residential guttering and avoid costly installation mistakes, then head over to my Contractor’s Toolbox to see the exact professional-grade gear I use to get the job done right.
The Network Behind This Site
Guttering.com is the flagship of a three-domain resource network built and operated by a guttering contractor with 31 years of active field experience. Each domain serves a distinct audience under the same editorial standard — field-accurate, contractor-written, and editorially independent from manufacturer influence and commission-driven recommendations.
- Guttering.com — Installation guides a 31-year expert guttering contractor, gutter guard reviews, and repair content for homeowners, DIYers, and property managers
- Guttering.net — Advanced technical content and trade resources for licensed contractors and crew leads
- Guttering.org — Structural drainage education and reference content for architectural and facilities management professionals
Beyond the Gutters
When I am not writing guides or evaluating drainage products, I spend time with my grandsons and work on a separate technical project — a comprehensive DIY resource for the Honeywell VISTA-20P home security panel. Same instinct, different system: accurate information for people who want to understand how something actually works.
Get in Touch
I read every message that comes in. Whether you are a homeowner troubleshooting a recurring leak, a DIYer planning a first installation, or a fellow guttering contractor looking for a second opinion on a complex roofline — detailed questions get detailed answers. The more specific you are about your situation, the more useful my response will be.
- Phone: 865-226-9721
- Email: david@guttering.com
If a product referenced on this site has failed in your application or does not match the performance described in the content, that feedback is genuinely useful and will be factored into future content updates.
