No Licence Requirement — So What Do You Verify?
Unlike electrical or gas work, eavestrough installation and cleaning in Ontario does not require a trade licence. This creates a wide range of providers — from experienced specialized contractors with proper equipment to informal operators working cash-only from a pickup truck. Without a licence requirement as a baseline filter, knowing what to ask becomes more important.
For cleaning work, the risk is mainly getting poor results — missed debris, unflushed downspouts, or missed damage during the inspection. For replacement work, the stakes are higher: poorly installed eavestroughs can fail quickly, and the workmanship issues that matter most (slope, joint quality, hanger spacing, downspout positioning) are not visible once the job is done. These issues often only surface during the first heavy rain or the first spring melt — after the contractor is long gone.
Step-by-Step: Hiring an Eavestrough Contractor
Get three written quotes
For any replacement job, collect at least three written quotes. Verbal estimates are not comparable and cannot be held to. When requesting quotes, ask each contractor to specify: profile size (5-inch vs 6-inch — see types guide), material and gauge (standard aluminum gauge for residential is 0.027 or 0.032 inch — heavier is better), seamless vs sectional, and whether downspouts and all accessories are included. A quote for 5-inch sectional aluminum is not comparable to a fair quote for 6-inch seamless — you need the same scope to compare price meaningfully.
Verify WSIB clearance
Eavestrough and eave work involves ladder access at the roofline — a fall risk environment. Before any work begins, request a WSIB (Workplace Safety and Insurance Board) clearance certificate. This document confirms the contractor has current workers' compensation coverage. If a worker is injured on your property and the contractor does not carry WSIB, you may be held personally liable as the property owner for injury costs. This risk applies even if the contractor is a sole proprietor — some sole proprietors carry WSIB; others do not and may have personal accident coverage instead. Ask and get it in writing.
Confirm general liability insurance
Ask for a certificate of insurance showing general liability coverage with a minimum $2M limit. This protects you if the contractor causes property damage during the job — ladder contact with a window, dropped tools, damage to roof shingles during eavestrough installation. A reputable contractor carries this without hesitation; one who can't produce it is a risk you shouldn't accept. Ask for the certificate before work starts — not after.
For cleaning: confirm downspouts are included
Not all cleaning services include downspout flushing — and a blocked downspout is as problematic as a clogged gutter channel. Confirm before booking that the service includes: clearing and flushing all downspouts to confirm they flow freely, and a visual inspection for visible damage (cracks, separating joints, hangers pulling away) during the clean. You want to know about problems while the contractor is still there — not discover them on your own during the next heavy rain.
For replacement: ask about fascia inspection
A reputable eavestrough contractor should inspect the fascia boards before installation. New eavestroughs mounted to rotted fascia will pull away within a few seasons — the fasteners simply won't hold. Ask specifically: "Do you inspect the fascia condition before installation, and how do you handle rotted sections?" Either the contractor addresses it (as a line item in the quote) or flags it clearly so you can arrange separate fascia work first. If a contractor proposes to install over unknown fascia condition without any mention of inspection, that is a concern.
Confirm downspout extension placement
Eavestroughs are only effective if downspouts discharge water away from the foundation. Confirm with any contractor that downspout extensions will direct water discharge at least 1.5–2 metres from the foundation wall. On flat-graded sites, a 2-metre extension may not be adequate and a buried downspout drain may be warranted — ask the contractor if the grade slopes toward the house at any discharge point. This is one of the most commonly overlooked elements in eavestrough installation and one of the most consequential for basement water infiltration.
Get a written workmanship warranty
Ask for a written warranty on workmanship — distinct from the material warranty provided by the manufacturer. A reputable installer should warranty their work for at least one year: if joints separate, slope is incorrect causing standing water, or hangers fail under normal load within the warranty period, they return to fix it at no charge. Get this in writing as part of the quote or contract. A contractor who is confident in their installation quality will not hesitate to provide this.
Red Flags to Watch For
- Significantly cheapest quote without explanation. In the eavestrough trade, the cheapest quote often means lighter-gauge aluminum, sectional instead of seamless, lower hanger density, or a crew that moves fast and skips slope verification. Ask what specifically accounts for the price difference before accepting it.
- No WSIB coverage and no credible alternative. Some sole proprietors carry personal accident insurance instead of WSIB — ask what their coverage is and confirm it. A contractor with no documentation of any kind is a liability risk.
- Won't quote in writing. Walk away. A professional contractor quotes in writing. Period.
- Proposes vinyl eavestroughs for an outdoor climate like Renfrew County. As noted in the types guide, vinyl does not hold up in freeze-thaw conditions. A contractor proposing vinyl for a full replacement is either not familiar with the climate or is pricing to a cost point rather than suitability.
- Pushes gutter guards heavily during a cleaning visit. While guards can be worth it, a hard sell of premium guards during a cleaning call — especially with urgency framing — warrants skepticism. Evaluate guards on their merits separately.