Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?
The number one thing to ask yourself when you are shopping for new gutters is, “Why?” This pivotal question will help to answer most of the subsequent questions you’ll have before purchasing your selection.
In our experience as a local gutter service, here are only three reasons homeowners might be shopping for new rain gutters:
An Upgrade – Installing new rain gutters can significantly impact the exterior style of your home, increasing its look in a subtler way than painting or new landscaping.
A New Home – Building a home comes with a lot of of decisions about both appearance and functionality. Gutters included. Deciding on the gutters that go on your house is important because they should last at least 15-20 years or more.
A Renovation – If your roof is damaged, the gutters might have to be replaced. Or, they could just be deteriorating and need to be replaced with new ones.
You will 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 too much money.
Your landscaping is being ruined by ineffective gutters.
Figuring out your “Why” will often give you direction while you are shopping. You’ll know which features are worth spending your money on or if you can go with a less expensive product.
Here are the major questions you’ll want to consider when it’s time to purchase new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The fun part about purchasing new gutters is picking out the style. Gutters can blend in or stand out against your home exterior, depending on your preference.
These are the choices you will have, in order of lowest to highest cost:
VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS
Vinyl and plastic are affordable materials that are durable in most scenarios, other than cold climates, where they can deteriorate. Vinyl and plastic gutters are sufficient in most regions of the country, and they are available in a wide range of colors.
METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS
These mid-priced options are stylish and durable. Both of these materials are available in a wide range of colors too. They are fairly light and not hard 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 available, copper and stainless steel cost the most, but are the most stylish as well. Homeowners in Elyria who choose these materials are looking for an elegant touch, and that’s just what they’ll get!
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?
Almost all of the gutter options above will offer these options:
SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS
Sectional gutters – These gutters come in smaller sections, so they’re easier to install. In fact, most homeowners decide to install their own sectional gutters. This type is the more affordable choice, and they have more seams, which means there are more areas where leaks can occur.
Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters should be installed by a contractor because they need special equipment. They’re more expensive to order 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 popular because they look great with every style of home. They are better for angled roofs, which are more common. This attributes to their popularity. In addition, they are easy to install. Most homeowners are proficient enough to install their own K-Style gutters.
Half-Round – Half-Round gutters are traditionally made of copper and steel, and they complement rounded roofs, popular before 1950, so they provide homes a luxurious, established curb appeal. However, more 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 much harder to install, but easier to clean out, when it’s time for gutter cleaning.
DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?
The climate of the region you live in may dictate a lot about which gutters you can have. Like we already mentioned, some materials will not hold up in cold climates.
The single most important climate factor to consider is how much work the gutters will need to do. Basically, how much rain or water are the gutters going to have to withstand?
Professional gutter installers in Elyria will take a lot of factors into consideration to determine the size and type of rain gutters that will work the 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 weather statistic can be found online on the National Weather Service or the U.S. Weather Bureau website. You can also check 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 standard length times width calculation for basic 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 less sloped roof. Figuring out your roof-pitch factor will help to determine how much rainfall will be collected, regardless of the rainfall statistics found online.
DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?
Snowfall is included in precipitation calculations, but you definitely want to consider the potential for ice dams forming on your roof. If it snows often in your region, you need to seek professional guidance concerning the type of rain gutters that help to prevent ice dams, which might severely damage your roof.
Of course, the last question is possibly 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 pay a professional to install your new gutters. Professional installation will ensure efficiency, instead of doing it yourself.
Most homeowners are better off paying a little extra for labor, knowing that the installation will be done right. Another bonus of hiring Elyria Gutter Experts to install the new gutters is that we can help you answer all your questions about gutters so that you find the perfect style and type for your home.