Gutter guards built for Wausau winters

How to get connected

1. Call or send the form

   Tell us your town and the problem: clogs, overflow, ice at the edge or water in the basement.

2. We hand it off

   Your request goes to one independent gutter company working in the Wausau area.

3. You get a call

   The installer contacts you, looks at the roofline and quotes the job directly.

Why are gutters harder here than in most places?

Snow. The Wisconsin State Climatology Office lists Wausau's 1991 to 2020 normal snowfall at 64.3 inches a year, measured at the Wausau Downtown Airport. Normal precipitation is 33.91 inches, with June the wettest month at 4.67 inches and February the driest at 1.08. So the gutters here do two jobs: carry summer thunderstorm rain, and survive months of snow load, freeze-thaw and the big melt that comes off the roof all at once in spring. Gutters that work fine in a milder climate can bend, pull loose or freeze solid here.

Who calls about gutters in the Wausau area?

Homeowners across Marathon County. Some live in older houses on the east and west sides of Wausau, a city that grew out of 19th-century lumbering along the Wisconsin River. Others are in the growing village of Weston, the wooded lots around Rib Mountain, or the lake and river neighborhoods of Schofield. Most calls are about one of four things: gutters full of seeds and leaves, ice building at the eaves, gutters damaged by snow and ice, or meltwater ending up in the basement.

Will gutter guards work with snow and ice?

A guard keeps debris out of the gutter, which matters here because a gutter half full of leaves in November turns into a gutter full of ice by January. But guards don't change what happens on the roof. In a hard freeze, any gutter, guarded or not, can fill with ice. What helps is a sturdy guard that won't collapse under snow, a gutter hung on strong hangers, and a roof and attic that aren't melting snow in the first place. Ask the installer how the guard they're quoting handles snow sliding off the roof.

What causes ice dams and icicles?

Heat from the house. North Dakota State University Extension explains that heat leaking into the attic melts snow on the upper roof, and the water refreezes when it reaches the cold eave, building a ridge of ice. Water then backs up behind it and can work under shingles. Extension's advice centers on sealing air leaks into the attic, adding insulation and venting the attic, and using a roof rake from the ground to clear the lower roof. Gutters and downspouts are the last stop for meltwater, so they need to be clear, firmly attached and draining. The ice dam and icicle control page covers the gutter side.

What falls into Wausau gutters?

Mostly hardwoods. The Wisconsin DNR describes the forest on Rib Mountain as dominated by sugar maple, paper birch, red oak and bigtooth aspen, and the same mix shows up in yards across the area. Maple seeds land in spring, birch catkins and seeds drift down, and oak leaves come down late in fall, sometimes after the first snow. Spruces and pines add needles. Fine mesh guards handle seeds and needles best; perforated covers cost less and handle broad leaves.

Signs your gutters aren't coping

• Icicles along the eaves, especially in one spot
• Gutters bent or pulled away after a heavy snow
• Water stains on ceilings or walls near outside corners
• A downspout frozen solid or split at a seam
• Ice sheets on the walk or drive below a downspout
• Water in the basement during spring melt

Do I need stronger gutters?

If gutters keep bending or pulling loose, probably. Heavier-gauge seamless aluminum, closer-spaced hangers screwed into solid wood, and larger downspouts that are less likely to clog with ice all help. On roofs where snow slides off in sheets, the installer may suggest gutter position or snow guards on the roof to protect the gutter.

Does a gutter installer need a Wisconsin license?

Wisconsin doesn't have a gutter-specific license. Contractors who take out building permits for work on one- and two-family homes need a Dwelling Contractor credential from the Department of Safety and Professional Services, which you can check on the state's LicensE lookup. Wisconsin's home improvement rules, ATCP 110, also require a written contract in many situations, such as when you pay before the work is done, and that contract must list the price, the work and the start and finish dates. More detail is in the Marathon County gutter guard guide.

Is this a gutter company?

No. Wausau Gutter Guards is a referral service. We connect you with an independent installer that works near you, and that company quotes, installs and backs the work. See how it works for questions to ask before you sign.

Communities we cover

• Wausau
• Weston
• Rib Mountain
• Schofield