Hello, I'm new to the DIY thing. I live in VT where we get a lot of ice and snow, and am wondering what the best type of gutter is that would stand up to this kind of weather, and/or how to prevent them from being torn off by the snow and ice (I have a shingle roof, but with about a 2-foot tin edge). I've also read a little about french drains, but not sure if it's worth the time (in the ground around my house there appears to be what used to be a french drain, I can see the end of one pipe sticking out the front yard, I found it when I cut down a large pine shrub that had grown over it). Should I bother with gutters and just try replacing the old french drain?

My uncle who has been a roofer for over 20 years agreed to replace/repair my flat roof at a price we can afford but he states that the wood does not need to be replaced. He is going to ripe off the gravel and replace with 3 ply minus the gravel and a silver coating. He is not working with his employer but rather a group of his co-workers so no warranty but he states he will come back if there are any problems at no cost. Most of our family and friends have had him do their roof repairs and replacements with no complaints. My concern is that my roof has been leaking for over two years. I'm afraid of rot and mold issues. We do have water stains here in there on our ceilings. I don't want a new roof on top of rotting wood. I know he does a good job and I trust him but I'm just not sure if he is taking the cheap route to save us money since we have very little to spend. Should I be concerned? I'm hoping that if he pulls off the gravel and old stuff and sees any rot he would probably let me know. We are using our income tax money to fix our roof and can't afford to replace with a company and there is no way i'm going through another year with buckets. Hope I can get some advice. Thank you, Melissa