Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?
The first thing to consider when you are shopping for new gutters is, “Why?” This pivotal question will help to answer the following 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 shopping for new rain gutters:
An Upgrade – Switching out the gutters can really affect the exterior style of your home, improving its look in a more subtle way than painting or new landscaping.
A New Home – Designing a new home comes with a lot of of choices about both appearance and functionality. Rain gutters are no exception. Choosing the first gutters that go on your home is important because they should last approximately 15 years or more.
A Renovation – If the roof on your home has experienced damage, the gutters may have to be replaced. Or, they could just be getting too old and need to be replaced with new ones.
You know why you are installing new rain gutters, but the reason often 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.
Figuring out your “Why” will provide direction while you are shopping. You’ll know if certain features are important or if you can go with a more affordable product.
Here are the major questions you’ll need to ask when it’s time to purchase new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The fun part of installing new gutters is picking out the materials. Gutters can blend in or stand out against your house, depending on your preference.
These are the options for materials, in order of lowest to highest cost:
VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS
Vinyl and plastic are economical choices that hold up well in most cases, other than cold climates, where they can become brittle. Vinyl and plastic gutters are acceptable in most regions of the country, and they come in a wide variety of colors.
METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS
These mid-priced materials are both attractive and durable. Both materials come in a variety of colors as well. They are fairly lightweight and easy to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) are able to resist rust and corrosion even better.
COPPER & STAINLESS STEEL GUTTERS
Of all the rain gutter materials available, copper and stainless steel cost the most, but the most stylish as well. Homeowners in Brick who choose these materials are searching for an elegant touch, and that’s exactly what they’ll get!
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?
Most of the gutter materials above offer both of these options:
SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS
Sectional gutters – These types of rain gutters are made in smaller sections, so they’re easy 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 more sections where leaks can occur.
Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters should be installed by a professional contractor because they require specialized tools. They are more expensive to purchase and to install, but they are less likely to leak or wear down 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 are better for angled roofs, which are more common. This attributes to their popularity. In addition, they are not hard to install. Many 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 curb appeal. However, modern styles made from vinyl and plastic provide the best of both worlds, being both lightweight and functional. Half-Round rain gutters are harder to install, but they are 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 types of materials don’t hold up well in cold climates.
The single most important climate factor to consider is how much work the gutters will have to do. Basically, how much water are the gutters going to have to withstand?
Professional gutter contractors in Brick are going to take a lot of factors into account to get a good idea of the size and type of gutters that are going to work the best for your home.
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 check the maximum rainfall intensity for your area. This is the max amount of rain that can happen within a 5-minute span.
Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a basic length times width calculation for standard roofs. But, you need to figure all the surfaces of multi-faceted roofs.
Roof-Pitch Factor – A steep roof will collect more wind-blown rain than a roof that is less sloped. Determining your roof-pitch factor will help to calculate how much rainfall will be collected, regardless of the average rainfall statistics found online.
DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?
Snowfall is going to be factored into average precipitation calculations, but you also want to consider the potential for ice dams forming on your roof. If it snows regularly in your city, you need to seek professional guidance about the type of rain gutters that help to prevent ice dams from forming, which might really damage your home’s roof.
Of course, the final question is arguably the most important …
HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?
You also need to ask yourself if you’re going to do the work yourself, or if you are going to pay a professional to install your new gutters. Professional installation ensures maximum efficiency, versus doing it yourself.
Most homeowners should consider paying a little extra for labor, knowing that the installation will be done right. An added bonus of hiring Good Home Gutters to install the new gutters is that we can help you answer all your questions about new gutters so that you are able to find the best style and type for your home.