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 many of the subsequent questions you’ll have before purchasing your ultimate selection.
In our experience as a local gutter service, here are just three reasons homeowners might be shopping for new rain gutters:
An Upgrade – Switching out the gutters can really affect the appearance of your house, increasing its look in a more subtle way than painting or landscaping.
A New Home – Designing a new home comes with a constant stream of choices about both appearance and functionality. Gutters are no exception. Deciding on the gutters that go on your house is important because they should last approximately 20 years or more.
A Renovation – If your roof has experienced damage, the gutters might have to be replaced, too. Or, they may simply be aging and need to be replaced.
You will know why you are replacing the rain gutters, but the reason often has underlying motivations…
You want to sell your home.
You want to renovate but not spend a lot of money.
Your landscaping is being ruined by ineffective gutters.
Determining your “Why” will often provide direction while you are shopping for new gutters. You’ll know if certain features are worth spending money on or if you can go with a less expensive product.
Here are the major questions you’ll have when it’s time to install new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The fun part of choosing new gutters is picking out the materials. Gutters will blend in or stand out against your home, 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 choices that hold up well in most cases, except in cold climates, where they will wear down. Vinyl and plastic gutters are sufficient in nearly every region of the country, and they are available in a wide range of colors.
METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS
These mid-priced materials are stylish and durable. Both of these materials come in a wide range of colors as well. They are fairly lightweight and are not hard to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) fend off rust and corrosion even better.
COPPER & STAINLESS STEEL GUTTERS
Of all the gutter materials available, copper and stainless steel cost the most, but the most eye-catching as well. Homeowners in Concord who choose these options are looking for an elegant touch, and that’s exactly 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 gutters are made in smaller sections, so they’re easier to install. In fact, many homeowners choose 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 professional contractor because they require special equipment. They’re more expensive to order and install, but less likely to leak or wear down than sectional gutters.
K-STYLE OR HALF-ROUND GUTTERS
K-Style – K-Style gutters are popular because they look great with every style of home. They are better for angled roofs, which are far more common. This speaks to their popularity. And, they are not hard to install. Many homeowners are proficient enough to install their own K-Style gutters by themselves.
Half-Round – Half-Round gutters are usually made of copper and steel, and they are best for rounded roofs, popular before 1950, so they provide homes a regal, classic appearance. However, modern styles made from vinyl and plastic provide the best of both worlds, because they are both lightweight and highly functional. Half-Round gutters are harder to install, but they are easier to clean, when it’s time for gutter cleaning.
DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?
The climate of the region you live in will dictate a lot about the gutters you should purchase. As we mentioned, certain materials will not hold up in extremely cold climates.
The single most important climate factor is how much work the gutters will need to do. Essentially, how much water are the gutters going to have to withstand?
Professional gutter contractors in Concord will take a lot of factors into account to get a good idea of the size and type of gutters that are going to work best for your house.
WHAT IS THE FORMULA?
Luckily, the formula professional 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 can be found on the National Weather Service or the U.S. Weather Bureau website. You can also look into the maximum rainfall intensity for the city you live in. This is the max amount of rain that will occur within a 5-minute span.
Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a simple length times width calculation for basic roofs. But, you have 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 roof that is less sloped. Knowing your roof-pitch factor is going to help to calculate how much rainfall will actually be collected, regardless of the average rainfall statistics found online.
DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?
Snowfall is factored into average precipitation calculations, but you also want to consider the potential for ice dams. If it snows regularly in your state, you need to seek professional guidance about the type of rain gutters that best prevent ice dams from forming, which can really damage your roof.
Of course, the final question is arguably the most important …
HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?
You also need to ask yourself if you’re willing to do the work yourself, or if you want to enlist the services of a professional to install your new gutters. Professional installation will ensure efficiency, instead of doing it yourself.
Most homeowners should consider paying a little extra for labor, knowing that the job will be done right. Another bonus of hiring The Concord Gutter Company to install your new gutters is that we will help you answer all your questions about new gutters so that you find the best style and type for your home.