Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?
The number one thing to consider when you are shopping for new gutters is, “Why?” This pivotal question will help to answer the subsequent questions you’ll have before making your ultimate selection.
In our experience as a local gutter service, here are only three reasons homeowners will be shopping for new gutters:
An Upgrade – Installing new gutters can really impact the exterior style of your house, enhancing its look in a subtler way than painting or new landscaping.
A New House – Building a home comes with a constant stream of decisions about both appearance and functionality. Gutters are no exception. Choosing the gutters that go on your home is important because they should last approximately 15 years.
A Renovation – If your roof is damaged, the gutters may have to be replaced, too. Or, they might simply be getting too old and need to be replaced with new ones.
You know why you are replacing the rain gutters, but the reason usually has underlying motivations…
You want to sell your house.
You want to renovate but not spend too much money.
Your landscaping is being damaged by ineffective gutters.
Determining your “Why” will often provide direction while you are shopping. You’ll know which features are important or if you can choose a less expensive product.
Here are the questions you’ll have when purchasing new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The fun part of choosing new rain gutters is choosing the materials. Gutters can blend in or stand out against your home, depending on your personal preference.
These are the choices you will have, in order of lowest to highest cost:
VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS
Vinyl and plastic are economical options that hold up well in most cases, except in 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 materials are stylish and durable. Both of these materials come in a variety of colors too. They are fairly light and are easy to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) will fend off rust and corrosion even better.
COPPER & STAINLESS STEEL GUTTERS
Of all the gutter materials, copper and stainless steel are the most expensive, but are the most stylish as well. Homeowners in Woodbury who choose these options are searching for an elegant touch, and that’s what they’ll get!
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?
Most of the gutter materials above offer these options:
SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS
Sectional gutters – These types of gutters are made in smaller sections, so they’re easier to install. In fact, most homeowners choose to install their own sectional gutters on their own. This type is the more affordable choice, and they have more seams, which means there are more sections where leaks are going to occur.
Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters will need to be installed by a professional contractor because they require special equipment. They are more expensive to purchase and to install, but they are less likely to leak than sectional gutters.
K-STYLE OR HALF-ROUND GUTTERS
K-Style – K-Style gutters are popular because they look great with almost any style of home. They are better for angled roofs, which are more common. This attributes to their popularity. In addition, they are not hard 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 before 1950, so they provide homes a luxurious, established appearance. However, more modern styles made from vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, being lightweight and functional. Half-Round rain gutters are a lot harder to install, but they are easier to clean, when it’s time for gutter cleaning.
DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?
The climate of the city you live in may dictate a lot about which gutters you can have. Like we mentioned, some materials don’t hold up well in cold climates.
The most important climate factor to think about is how much work the gutters will need to do. Basically, how much rain or water are your gutters going to have to withstand?
Professional gutter contractors in Woodbury can take many factors into consideration to get a good idea of the size and type of rain gutters that will work the best for your home.
WHAT IS THE FORMULA?
Luckily, the formula professional home exterior contractors use is not a secret. Here are the pieces of specific information you will need to decide how large your gutters should be:
Average Rainfall – This weather statistic is available on the National Weather Service or the U.S. Weather Bureau website. You should also look into the maximum rainfall intensity for the city you live in. This is the max amount of rain that can happen within a 5-minute span.
Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a simple length times width calculation for standard roofs. However, you have to factor in all the surfaces of multi-faceted roofs.
Roof-Pitch Factor – A steep roof will collect more wind-blown rain than a less sloped roof. Determining your roof-pitch factor will help to calculate how much rainfall will actually be collected, regardless of the average rainfall statistics.
DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?
Snowfall is going to be factored into average precipitation calculations, but you also want to be aware of the potential for ice dams. If it snows a lot in your state, you need to seek professional guidance about the type of gutters that best prevent ice dams, which could severely 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 on your own, or if you are going to enlist the services of a professional to install your gutters. Professional installation will ensure maximum efficiency, instead of doing it yourself.
Most homeowners should consider paying a little extra for professional labor, to ensure that the installation will be done correctly. An added bonus of hiring Pristine Clean Gutters to install the new gutters is that we will help you answer all of your questions about gutters so that you find the perfect style and type.