Answers

In our opinion, gutters should be installed anywhere that the pitch of the roof causes water to shed.  

Generally speaking the roofline actually determines where the gutters are supposed to be. Whenever there is water flow coming off the home there should be gutters and it should be all around the home. So, unless your home was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and it has the proper underground drainage built-in, you should contact your local gathering contractor.

Here is a place where your can find manufactureres and contractors:  http://www.thebluebook.com/

Not sure if there is such a thing but NAHB.Com would be a good starting point. 

Boy I would not go that.  Hold off on the project until you have the money to do it right.  Then, pull off the formica, repair the water damage and install new countertop

Phililp

HDR Remodeling

For what you will spend in time and effort on this type of repair, I would suggest you look at granite as an option.  Many local fabricators are offering specials on material that (depending on your sq. feet) could be very close to what you spend on recovering in formica.

I would find a local distributor of the product and they will have a list of preferred fabricators.  Please tell them it is commercial not residential work.

Philip Anderson

We used a product called GianiGranite. It is a DIY paint process, but covers the formica perfectly. The reviews i read said that you may need to do an additional top coat (seal) every few years if your countertops get scratched, but we loved the transformation. So affordable and turned out great!

Our tile contractor installed tile over his with a hardwood stained bullnose and backsplash.  He went with an 1/8" grout line and used epoxy grout.  It looks great!