Roofing guides · Calgary
What eavestrough replacement really costs in Calgary in 2026, per lineal foot, with the sizing, gauge, hanger and downspout details that decide whether it survives ice damming and a July cloudburst.
Written by Johnny Anderson, owner of Mountain Standard Roofing Ltd. · Updated 2026-09-01
Eavestrough is the cheapest part of your exterior and the one that causes the most expensive damage when it fails. In Calgary the two things it has to survive are ice and cloudburst rain — and undersized, sagging, badly drained trough loses to both. Here is what replacement costs per lineal foot in 2026 and what actually matters in the spec.
The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers' Association explains it plainly in Protecting Against Damage from Ice Dams: ice dams form from repeated thawing and freezing of melting snow, or from frozen slush backing up in the gutters. Once a dam forms, water gets forced under the roofing and into ceilings, walls, insulation and framing.
ARMA's prevention list is the same list we work from:
That fourth point is the one installers get wrong. Hang the trough too high and it becomes the dam. That is a hanging detail, not a product upgrade — and it costs nothing to do right. If ice damming is already happening at your house, the root cause is usually up in the attic; read this with our attic insulation page beside it.
The other half of the defence is under the shingles. ARCA's Glossary of Steep-Slope Roofing Terms defines eave protection as a waterproofing membrane along the eave edge that stops melt water from ice dams getting under the roof covering, typically running from the eave edge to at least 300 mm (12 in.) past the interior face of the exterior wall. ARMA points to one layer of self-adhering polymer-modified bitumen underlayment meeting CSA A123.22 in Canada, extended a minimum of 24 in. inside the interior wall line. If your roof is due, this is the moment to confirm your eave protection is right — see residential roof replacement.
The second reason to care is the basement. Calgary's Guide to Lot Drainage is specific about roof water:
A blown-out trough joint over a basement window well can cost more in one thunderstorm than the whole eavestrough job.
Drip edge, fascia and trough are one system. Get the trough edge below the roof slope line so ice and snow can shed clear.
Nearly every residential eavestrough in Calgary is seamless (continuous) aluminium, roll-formed on site so there are no joints along the run — joints are where leaks start.
Calgary-area installed ranges including removal and disposal of the old material. This is a market range, not a quote — height, roof pitch, access, and how much fascia has rotted behind the old trough are what move it.
| Item | Calgary installed range (CAD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 5 in. continuous aluminium eavestrough, .027 | $8 – $12 per lineal ft | Standard residential |
| 6 in. continuous aluminium eavestrough, .032 | $11 – $17 per lineal ft | Recommended for steep, long or high-volume runs |
| Downspouts, 2×3 in. | $9 – $14 per lineal ft | Or roughly $90 – $170 per typical single-storey drop |
| Downspouts, 3×4 in. | $12 – $18 per lineal ft | Pairs with 6 in. trough |
| Leaf guard / gutter screen | $8 – $22 per lineal ft | Wide spread — mesh screens at the low end, rigid hooded systems at the high end |
| Fascia replacement (aluminium-clad or new wood) | $10 – $18 per lineal ft | Very common on 1970s–90s Calgary homes |
| Soffit replacement, vented aluminium | $11 – $20 per lineal ft | Do it now — soffit venting feeds the attic |
| Two-storey height / difficult access surcharge | +15% – 30% | Scaffold, steep pitch, no ladder footing |
| Typical bungalow, ~140 lineal ft, 5 in. + 4 downspouts | $1,500 – $2,300 | Trough and downspouts only |
| Typical bungalow, ~140 lineal ft, 6 in. + 3×4 downspouts | $2,000 – $3,100 | The upgrade most Calgary homes should take |
| Two-storey, ~200 lineal ft, 6 in. with soffit and fascia | $5,500 – $10,000 | Full eave package |
If you have a written quote from another Calgary contractor for the same scope, bring it — MSR's $500 price-beat guarantee means we beat it by $500.
Calgary is not a heavy-leaf city compared with the east, but poplar seed, spruce needles, shingle granules and hail debris all end up in the trough — and ARMA specifically lists keeping gutters and downspouts free of debris as an ice-dam prevention measure.
When we pull old trough off a Calgary house, the fascia behind it is often soft. Spikes and ferrules chew up the fascia board; ice loading pulls the hangers; water tracking behind a badly hung trough rots the wood. Hanging new trough on rotten fascia is a warranty claim waiting to happen.
Because those pieces interlock, most homeowners are better off doing trough, downspouts, fascia, soffit and drip edge as one scope. That is exactly what full exterior renovations is for, and it is the cheapest time to do it if the roof is being done in the same season.
If your trough overflows, sags, drips at the corners, or you get icicles every winter, get eyes on it before freeze-up. Free inspection, photos of what we find, and a written scope you can compare against any other quote. Book at our quote page or call (587) 577-6170 — Calgary, Airdrie, Cochrane, Chestermere, Okotoks, High River, Strathmore, Red Deer, Brooks and Claresholm.
Questions homeowners actually ask
How much does eavestrough replacement cost in Calgary?
Calgary installed ranges run about $8 to $12 per lineal foot for 5 inch continuous aluminium and $11 to $17 for 6 inch, plus downspouts. A typical bungalow with roughly 140 lineal feet lands at $1,500 to $2,300 in 5 inch or $2,000 to $3,100 in 6 inch. A two-storey with about 200 lineal feet plus soffit and fascia runs $5,500 to $10,000.
Should I choose 5 inch or 6 inch eavestrough in Calgary?
Six inch if the roof is steep, the runs are long, valleys dump into one trough, or you have a metal roof that sheds fast. Six inch carries roughly 40 to 50 per cent more water, pairs with a 3 by 4 inch downspout instead of 2 by 3 inch, and sags less under an ice load. Five inch is adequate for simple bungalow gables with modest roof areas.
What gauge of aluminium eavestrough is best?
Ask for .032 inch rather than the common builder-grade .027 inch. The heavier gauge is noticeably stiffer, so it resists ladder dents, hail and ice loading better and holds its line between hangers. Also confirm hidden hangers screwed into solid fascia every 24 inches, tightened to 16 to 18 inches on long or north-facing runs, instead of spikes and ferrules.
How far from the house should downspouts discharge?
The City of Calgary's Guide to Lot Drainage says downspouts should extend 4 to 6 feet from the foundation so runoff does not recirculate down the foundation wall into the basement or weeping tile. They must be directed to the front or rear of the property toward the street, lane or swale, must not discharge onto a neighbour's property, and discharge points must be at least 2 metres from public infrastructure.
Will new eavestrough stop my ice dams?
Not on its own. Ice dams come from heat escaping into the attic and melting snow that refreezes at the eave. ARMA's guidance is to keep the attic cold with insulation, ventilate it properly, install baffles near the eaves, keep the trough clear of debris, and set the outer edge of the trough below the roof slope line so ice and snow can slide clear. New trough hung correctly helps, but the attic is usually the root cause.
Do leaf guards work in Calgary?
They earn their money under mature poplars, spruce or elms and on two-storeys nobody wants to climb. On an open lot with no overhanging trees, a seasonal clean-out is cheaper. No guard is maintenance-free, and fine mesh over a 5 inch trough can restrict flow in a heavy Calgary downpour. If capacity is the worry, 6 inch trough with 3 by 4 inch downspouts beats any screen.
Why does fascia or soffit work usually come with an eavestrough job?
Because the fascia is the fastening surface. Old spike-and-ferrule trough, ice loading and water tracking behind a badly hung trough all rot the fascia board, and new trough will not hold on wood that will not take a screw. Soffit matters too, since it supplies the attic's intake air. Doing trough, fascia, soffit and drip edge as one scope avoids paying twice for access.
We measure the roof, count the penetrations, look at the decking and give you a written quote with the scope itemised — free, no obligation. Bring us a written quote from another Calgary roofer for the same scope and we will beat it by $500.
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Every review below is a verified Google review of Mountain Standard Roofing Ltd. Backed by our 10-year workmanship warranty and our $500 price-beat guarantee.
★★★★★
“Mountain Standard Roofing handled my storm damage roof replacement perfectly. They worked directly with my insurance company, handled all the paperwork, and made the entire process stress-free. The crew was professional, efficient, and left my yard clean.”
Nikki Rick — Google review
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“John and his team were awesome to deal with. He did my roof and siding and they finished a day ahead of schedule. Not only was the service awesome but the price was much better than competitors.”
Kristoffer — Google review
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“The owner John is very communicative and always took time to answer our questions. Our roof was re-done in the agreed timeline and for the agreed upon price. Would highly recommend doing business with Mountain Standard Roofing.”
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