Which Gutters Are Right For Your Home?
The number one thing to ask yourself when you are shopping for new gutters is, “Why?” This question will help to answer many of the subsequent questions you’ll have before purchasing your selection.
In our experience as a local gutter service, here are just three reasons homeowners will be in the market for new gutters:
An Upgrade – Switching out the gutters can really impact the appearance of your house, enhancing its look in a subtler way than painting or new landscaping.
A New Home – Designing a home comes with a constant stream of decisions about appearance and functionality. Gutters are one of them. Deciding on the gutters that go on your home is important because they will need to last approximately 15 years or more.
A Renovation – If the roof on your home has suffered damage, the gutters may have to be replaced, too. Or, they could simply be wearing down and need to be replaced.
You know why you are installing new 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.
Determining your “Why” will help to give you direction while you are shopping. You’ll know if certain features are must-haves or if you can go with a more affordable product.
Here are the major questions you’ll have when purchasing new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The fun part about choosing new gutters is picking out the style. Gutters will blend in or stand out against your house, depending on your preference.
These are the options you will have, in order of cost:
VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS
Vinyl and plastic are affordable materials that are durable in most cases, other than extremely cold climates, where they will become brittle. Vinyl and plastic gutters are efficient in most regions of the country, and they are available in a wide variety of colors.
METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS
These mid-priced options are both attractive and durable. Both of these materials are available in a wide range of colors too. They are fairly lightweight and not difficult 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 are the most expensive, but are the most stylish as well. Homeowners in Kentwood who choose these materials are searching for an elegant touch, and that’s what they’ll get!
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?
Most of the gutter options above will offer these options below:
SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS
Sectional gutters – These types of gutters come in smaller sections, so they’re easier to install. In fact, homeowners decide to install their own sectional gutters on their own. This type is the more affordable choice, and they have more seams, which means more areas where leaks are going to occur.
Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters should be installed by a professional contractor because they require special equipment. 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 every style of home. They’re better for angled roofs, which are far more common. This one of the reasons for 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 traditionally made of copper and steel, and they are best for rounded roofs, popular before 1950, so they provide homes a regal, classic curb appeal. However, more modern styles made out of vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, because they are both lightweight and functional. Half-Round gutters are harder to install, but easier to clean, when it’s time for gutter cleaning.
DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?
The climate of your region may determine a lot about which gutters you should install. As we mentioned, some materials don’t hold up in extremely cold climates.
The single most important climate factor to think about is how much work the gutters will need to do. Essentially, how much water are your gutters going to need to withstand?
Professional gutter installers in Kentwood can take several factors into account to determine the size and the type of gutters that are going to work best for your roof.
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 statistic is available online 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 maximum 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 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. Knowing your roof-pitch factor is going to help you calculate how much rainfall will be collected, regardless of the rainfall statistics.
DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?
Snowfall is going to be factored into average precipitation calculations, but you definitely want to consider the potential for ice dams. If it snows a lot in your state, you need to seek professional guidance about the type of rain gutters that help to prevent ice dams, which could really 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 do the work yourself, or if you are going to pay a professional to install your gutters. Professional installation ensures maximum efficiency, versus doing it yourself.
Most homeowners are better off paying a little extra for professional labor, to ensure that the installation will be done right. Another bonus of hiring Good Clean Gutters to install the gutters is that we will help you answer all of your questions about new gutters so that you are able to find the best style and type.