Gutters in Maize, KS

From railroad stop to growing suburb

Maize was founded in 1886 at the first stop outside Wichita on the Wichita and Colorado Railway, and its name comes from a word for corn. The Maize Town Company dissolved in 1915 and the town incorporated as a city. It sits on the west side of Big Slough Creek northwest of Wichita. The 2020 census counted 5,735 residents, up from 3,420 in 2010, and 2,289 housing units, up from 1,284.

Gutters on big, new roofs

Much of the new housing in Maize is larger two-story and story-and-a-half homes with steep roofs, multiple gables and long valleys. Those roof shapes collect a lot of water and send it to just a few points. Typical issues include:

• Water shooting over the gutter at the bottom of valleys during heavy rain. Valley splash guards or 6-inch gutters can help.
• Too few downspouts for long runs, so water backs up in the middle of the gutter.
• Upper roofs draining onto lower roofs, where a downspout empties onto shingles and wears them faster. A diverter or extension down the lower roof helps.
• Tall eaves that make cleaning risky. The CDC's NIOSH estimates more than 500,000 people are treated each year for ladder-related injuries in the U.S., and two-story gutters are where many homeowners decide to hire help.

Gauge and material on exposed lots

New subdivisions on former farmland often have few mature trees to break the wind or hail. Standard residential aluminum gutters are commonly 0.027 or 0.032 inch thick, and the heavier gauge resists dents and ladder damage better. Steel gutters are also available but can rust if the coating is scratched. Ask which gauge is being quoted when you compare estimates.

Drainage near Big Slough Creek

Lots on low ground near Big Slough Creek and its drainage channels can stay wet after big storms. Directing roof water at least 5 feet from the foundation, and onto a part of the yard that slopes away, protects basements, which are common in newer Maize homes. Buried downspout lines need enough slope and an outlet that will not be covered by mulch or sod.

When hail hits Maize

After a big hailstorm, whole streets in newer subdivisions can need roofs and gutters at the same time. That brings door-to-door contractors quickly. Take your time: photograph damage, read your policy and compare written estimates that list the gutter size, gauge, downspout count and what happens to the old gutters.

Leaves and seeds as trees grow

Young landscape trees drop little at first, but by the time a subdivision is 10 to 15 years old, maples, oaks and ornamental pears start filling gutters. That is often when homeowners start asking about guards.

Share your project details and we'll call you back. Published ranges are in the gutter cost guide.

Matching new gutters to a newer home

Many Maize homes have color schemes chosen by the builder, and HOAs in some neighborhoods regulate exterior colors. When replacing a section or adding a downspout, matching the existing color closely keeps the house from looking patched. Common aluminum gutter colors cover most builder trim shades, but bring the HOA rules and a photo of the trim when discussing options.

Replacing only part of a gutter system on a newer home is common after hail. Ask whether the new pieces will match the profile and size of the existing gutters, because a 5-inch and a 6-inch K-style do not join cleanly.

For homeowners comparing quotes, it helps to have the approximate roof size or the house's square footage and number of stories ready, plus notes about which corners overflow.

Maize gutter services

• Gutter Installation
• Gutter Cleaning
• Gutter Repair
• Seamless Gutters
• Gutter Guards & Covers
• Gutter Replacement
• Hail-Damaged Gutters
• Cost guide

Sources for Maize facts: Wikipedia: Maize, Kansas; Wikipedia: Wichita, Kansas (climate); Angi, how to choose gutter gauge; ICC, 2018 International Residential Code, Section R801.3 roof drainage; CDC NIOSH, National Ladder Safety Month.