The name stainless steel refers to an alloy of steel and chromium that makes the metal rust-resistant and high-gloss. Stainless steel rain gutters are strong and resistant to a variety of corrosive environments and weather conditions. Once polished, these gutters will retain their attractive, shiny, "stainless steel" appearance for years or even decades with little or no maintenance. While they are one of the most expensive gutters, they are also one of the most durable and should last a lifetime if installed correctly.

The following are typical steps for a service professional to install a stainless steel rain gutter system:

1. Measurement: The first step is to measure the total gutter length required for each gutter run. The contractor will also mark the slope of the gutters, which will help carry water to the downspouts. He needs to mark the highs and then calculate where to mark the lows. The low end is where downpipes are installed for drainage. After marking the highs and lows, the installer will use a piece of string to create a line from one to the other, then chalk the line on the frieze so he knows where to mount the brackets.

2. Attach the brackets: Next, they will look for the rafter tails behind the fascia. They are usually about 16 inches apart. They will then make a chalk mark on each of the other rafter tails along the chalk line they made earlier. They will then install the mounting brackets, using screws long enough to extend through the panels to the rafter tails.

3. Field Assembly: The next step is to cut the gutter pieces to fit. For stainless steel, this might be a 10-foot section that needs to be cut to size.

4 Downspouts: Once the gutters are sized, the contractor will cut notches (at the lowest pegs) on the part of the gutters where the downspouts will sit.

5. Place and install: Once all the brackets are in place and everything is marked, they will install the first gutters. These are attached by screwing stainless steel screws into the mounting brackets. Then, each section is added and welded together until the run is complete. The final step is to add the downspout elbow and drain.

6. Add Gutter Guards: The last option is to add gutter guards to keep leaves and debris from building up in your brand new gutter system.