Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?
The very first thing to ask yourself when you are shopping for new gutters is, “Why?” This important 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 just three reasons homeowners will be in the market for new rain gutters:
An Upgrade – Switching out the rain gutters can really affect the curb appeal of your house, enhancing its look in a more subtle way than painting or new landscaping.
A New Home – Designing a home comes with a constant stream of decisions about appearance and functionality. Rain gutters included. Deciding on the first gutters that go on your home is important because they should last at least 20 years.
A Renovation – If your roof been damaged, the gutters might have to be replaced, too. Or, they might just be deteriorating and need to be replaced.
You obviously know why you are installing new rain gutters on your home, but the reason often has underlying motivations…
You want to sell your home.
You want to renovate but not spend too much 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 important or if you can go with a less expensive product.
Here are the questions you’ll have when purchasing new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The fun part about purchasing new rain gutters is choosing the materials. Gutters can blend in or stand out against your home exterior, depending on your personal preference.
These are the options you will have, in order of lowest to highest cost:
VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS
Vinyl and plastic are economical materials that are durable in most cases, besides cold climates, where they will become brittle. Vinyl and plastic gutters are acceptable in most regions of the country, and they are available in a wide variety of colors.
METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS
These reasonably priced options are both stylish and durable. Both materials are available in a variety of colors too. They are fairly light and easy to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) withstand rust and corrosion even better.
COPPER & STAINLESS STEEL GUTTERS
Of all the rain gutter materials, copper and stainless steel cost the most, but are the most stylish as well. Homeowners in Kettering who choose these options are searching for an elegant touch, and that’s what they’ll get!
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?
Almost all of the gutter types above offer these options:
SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS
Sectional gutters – These rain gutters are made in smaller sections, so they are easy to install. In fact, many homeowners decide to install their own sectional gutters on their own. This type is the less expensive choice, and they are made with more seams, which means there are more sections where leaks can occur.
Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters will need to be installed by a professional contractor because they need specialized tools. They are more expensive to buy and 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 virtually any style of home. They’re better for angled roofs, which are far more common. This one of the reasons for their popularity. Plus, they are easy to install. Most homeowners are proficient enough to install their own K-Style gutters by themselves.
Half-Round – Half-Round gutters are traditionally made of copper and steel, and they complement rounded roofs, popular before 1950, so they give homes a regal, established curb appeal. However, modern styles made from vinyl and plastic provide the best of both worlds, being both lightweight and highly functional. Half-Round gutters are much harder to install, but much easier to clean, when the time comes for gutter cleaning.
DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?
The climate of the region you live in will determine a lot about what gutters you can have. Like we already mentioned, some 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. In other words, how much rain or water are the gutters going to need to handle?
Professional gutter installers in Kettering will take a lot of factors into account to get a good idea of the size and type of gutters that will work best for your house.
WHAT IS THE FORMULA?
Luckily, the formula professional roofing 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 your area. This is the maximum amount of rain that occurs within a 5-minute span.
Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a basic length times width calculation for residential roofs. However, you will need to figure all the surfaces of multi-faceted roofs.
Roof-Pitch Factor – A steep roof will collect more wind-blown rain than a less sloped roof. Knowing your roof-pitch factor will help you estimate how much rainfall will be collected, regardless of the rainfall statistics.
DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?
Snowfall will be included in average precipitation calculations, but you definitely want to be aware of the potential for ice dams forming on your roof. If it snows often in your state, you should seek professional guidance concerning the type of gutters that help to prevent ice dams, which could severely damage your roof.
Of course, the last question is arguably the most important …
HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?
You also have to ask yourself if you’re going 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, versus doing it yourself.
Most homeowners are better off paying a little extra for professional labor, knowing that the job will be done correctly. Another bonus of hiring A+ Gutters of Kettering to install your new gutters is that we can help you answer all your questions about new gutters so that you are able to find the perfect style and type.