Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?
The number one thing to ask yourself when you are purchasing new gutters is, “Why?” This pivotal question will help you answer the following questions you’ll have before purchasing your final selection.
In our experience as a local gutter service, here are three reasons homeowners will be shopping for new gutters:
An Upgrade – Installing new rain gutters can really affect the appearance of your house, enhancing its look in a subtler way than painting or landscaping.
A New House – Designing a home comes with a lot of of decisions about appearance and functionality. Gutters are no exception. Choosing the first gutters that go on your home is important because they should last approximately 20 years.
A Renovation – If the roof on your home has suffered damage, the gutters might have to be replaced, too. Or, they might just be wearing down and need to be replaced.
You obviously know why you are replacing the rain gutters, but the reason often has underlying motivations…
You want to sell your house.
You want to renovate but not spend a lot of money.
Your landscaping is being ruined by ineffective gutters.
Figuring out your “Why” will often provide direction while you are shopping for new gutters. You’ll know what features are must-haves or if you can go with a more affordable product.
Here are the questions you’ll want to consider when purchasing new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The best part about purchasing new rain gutters is choosing the style. Gutters can blend in or stand out against your home exterior, depending on your personal preference.
These are the choices you will have, in order of cost:
VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS
Vinyl and plastic are economical options that hold up well in most scenarios, other than extremely cold climates, where they will become brittle. Vinyl and plastic gutters are acceptable in most regions of the country, and they come in a wide range of colors.
METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS
These reasonably priced options are stylish and durable. Both of these materials come in a wide range of colors as well. They are fairly light and easy to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) are able to withstand rust and corrosion even better.
COPPER & STAINLESS STEEL GUTTERS
Of all the gutter materials available, copper and stainless steel are the most expensive, but are the most attractive as well. Homeowners in CITY who decide on these materials are looking for an elegant touch, and that’s what they’ll get!
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?
Most of the gutter materials above will offer both of these options below:
SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS
Sectional gutters – These gutters are made in smaller sections, so they are easier to install. In fact, many homeowners decide to install their own sectional gutters. This type is the more affordable choice, and they are made with more seams, which means more areas where leaks are going to occur.
Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters will need to be installed by a contractor because they need special equipment. They are more expensive to buy and to install, but less likely to leak than sectional gutters.
K-STYLE OR HALF-ROUND GUTTERS
K-Style – K-Style gutters are far more popular because they look great with every style of home. They’re better for angled roofs, which are far more common. This one of the reasons for their popularity. And, they are easy to install. Most homeowners are capable enough to install their own K-Style gutters.
Half-Round – Half-Round gutters are usually made of copper and steel, and they complement rounded roofs, popular prior to 1950, so they give homes a luxurious, established appearance. However, more modern styles made from vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, being lightweight and highly functional. Half-Round rain gutters are harder to install, but much easier to clean out, when the time comes for gutter cleaning.
DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?
The climate of the region you live in will dictate a lot about which gutters you should purchase. Like we already mentioned, some types of materials will not hold up in extremely cold climates.
The most important climate factor to consider is how much work the gutters will have to do. Essentially, how much water are your gutters going to have to withstand?
Professional gutter contractors in CITY are going to take several factors into consideration to get a good idea of the size and the type of gutters that are going to work best for your house.
WHAT IS THE FORMULA?
Luckily, the formula professional roofing contractors use is no secret. Here are the pieces of specific information you will need to decide how large your gutters should be:
Average Rainfall – This statistic can be found online on the National Weather Service or the U.S. Weather Bureau website. You should also look into the maximum rainfall intensity for your area. This is the maximum amount of rain that occurs within a 5-minute span.
Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a simple length times width calculation for basic roofs. But, you will want to figure all the surfaces of multi-faceted roofs.
Roof-Pitch Factor – A roof that is steep will collect more wind-blown rain than a less sloped roof. Figuring out your roof-pitch factor is going to help you estimate how much rainfall will actually be collected, regardless of the rainfall statistics found online.
DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?
Snowfall is factored into average precipitation calculations, but you definitely want to be aware of the potential for ice dams. If it snows often in your city, you should seek professional guidance concerning the type of gutters that best prevent ice dams from forming, which could really damage your home’s roof.
Of course, the last question is arguably the most important …
HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?
You also have to ask yourself if you’re willing to try to do the work yourself, or if you want to hire a professional to install your gutters. Professional installation will ensure efficiency, versus doing it yourself.
Most homeowners are better off paying a little extra for professional labor, to ensure that the installation will be done correctly. Another bonus of hiring AllClean Gutters to install the new gutters is that we will help you answer all your questions about new gutters so that you are able to find the best style and type.