Are you frustrated by the constant upkeep that comes with built-in gutters and wondering if you can just convert them to regular gutters instead? Are you worried that the contractor you hire might do it the wrong way and leave you with even more issues?
At RoofSmart, we have repaired and converted over 100 built-in gutters. Through this experience, we have learned about the damage that they can cause and the best ways to convert them so that there aren’t any further issues on your roof.
In this article, you’ll learn exactly how the gutter conversion process should be done—the right way. We’ll walk you through each step, show you what happens when roofers cut corners, and help you avoid expensive mistakes.
What problems do built-in gutters cause on Seattle roofs?
Built-in gutters (also known as box gutters) can be a cool addition to your roof if you don’t like the look of traditional gutters. However, they usually become a hassle to maintain and potentially cause damage. Here are some examples:
- Leaks: The design of built-in gutters makes pooling water basically inevitable. When you have large amounts of water sitting on your roof, this increases the likelihood of leaks happening. Leaks are most common around the drain because it is difficult to seal it properly. A lot of roofers do it wrong.
- Pooling water: Pooling water is an issue because it’s a prime zone for algae growth and mosquitoes. Gross! These are two things that you don’t want hanging around on your roof.
- Rotting wood: When you get a roof leak, it will eventually cause the wood in your roof to rot. Roof decking, trusses, fascia—you name it, it can rot. Roof leaks are such a nuisance because they can happen for a long time before you even notice. This means that usually, with built-in gutters, there will be a lot of water damage and rotting wood all over your roof before you even realize there’s a leak.
- Difficult maintenance: If you have trees on your property or near your house, then you probably have leaves or pine needles falling onto your roof. This is annoying to clean from regular gutters, but in a built-in gutter, you have to climb onto the roof and remove it. It can be extra difficult and unpleasant if the tree debris is sitting in a pool of water.
How do I remove built-in gutters on my roof?
If you’re tired of stressing about roof leaks and water damage, then it’s time to get rid of your built-in gutters.
However, you should make sure that you hire an experienced roofer who converts your roof the right way. Otherwise, you’ll pay thousands of dollars just to be stuck with more roof problems.
Here are the steps we at RoofSmart take to properly convert built-in gutters back to a regular roof:
1. Remove the fascia boards and roof decking: The old fascia boards are not the right fit for the new roof, so they need to be taken off. Then we remove the roofing material in the built-in gutter area and any OSB or plywood roof decking that is in that area. We’ll also remove any other boards that are rotting or moldy.
2. Cut off the ends of the rafters and install new fascia boards: Once the fascia and roof decking are out of the way, we’ll put a string line up along the rafters and cut off the ends. This gets rid of the downward angle and any rotting wood. We’ll remove additional pieces and replace them as needed to get rid of rotten wood.
This is what the built-in gutters looked like before on a recent customer’s home
Here’s what it looked like after we removed the fascia board and cut the rafters back:
3. Install a new gutter on the fascia boards: After the rafters are leveled, we can install a new fascia board and regular gutters.
This was the end result:
What’s the wrong way to convert built-in gutters?
Instead of doing all of that, some roofers just cut off the top of the fascia board so that it’s shorter and now looks like a regular roof.
Here are the problems that this causes:
- Fascia isn’t supposed to be angled: The fascia board is angled downward, so when you put a gutter on it, the angle is wrong, and water won’t flow into it properly. You can “fix” this by using wedges to push it out, but it looks bad. This is not a good fix; it’s just the quicker, cheaper one.
Here’s an example of what that looks like:
Notice how there is a gap between the fascia board and the gutter because the fascia board is angled. It should be flat so that the gutter sits right against it.
- Can’t angle the gutter towards the drain: If you use wedges, there’s no backing on the gutters, so you can’t adjust their angle. Without any slant or slope, your gutters won’t drain properly.
- Leaks and rot were not fixed: Just cutting the fascia board doesn’t get rid of any of the rotting wood that’s almost definitely in your roof, where the built-in gutter was.
How much does it cost to remove built-in gutters in Seattle?
Removing built-in gutters and converting your roof costs about $20 per foot. This is about the same cost as getting your built-in gutters redone to be properly waterproofed. If there’s a lot of rotting wood and mold, then this will increase the total cost.
After that, there’s an additional cost of around $1,000 to $4,000 to get new gutters installed. This price will vary depending on the brand and style you choose.
How do I know if I should keep my built-in gutters or just get rid of them?
At this point, you understand what the process of converting built-in gutters to regular gutters involves—and what can go wrong if it’s done incorrectly. If you're dealing with persistent leaks, hidden wood rot, or impossible maintenance, removing those built-in gutters might feel like the only logical solution.
But before you commit, it's worth stepping back to fully understand what built-in gutters actually offer, where they fail, and what it would cost to restore or replace them properly.
Your next step is to read “The Pros, Cons, and Costs of Built-In Gutters” to weigh all your options with confidence. That way, whether you remove or restore, you’ll know you made the most informed decision possible for your home.
Need help finding a roofer who is qualified to help you work on your built-in gutters? Check out our Qualified Roofer Checklist and start confidently evaluating roofers.
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