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 you answer the 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 in the market for new rain gutters:
An Upgrade – Switching out the rain gutters can significantly affect the appearance of your home, increasing its look in a more subtle way than painting or new landscaping.
A New Home – Building a new home comes with a lot of of decisions about appearance and functionality. Gutters are no exception. Choosing the first gutters that go on your home is important because they should last at least 15 years or more.
A Renovation – If the roof on your home been damaged, the gutters may have to be replaced. Or, they may just be aging and need to be replaced.
You will know why you are installing new gutters on your home, but the reason often has underlying motivations…
You want to sell your home.
You want to renovate without spending a lot of money.
Your landscaping is getting damaged by ineffective gutters.
Determining your “Why” will often give you direction while you are shopping for new gutters. You’ll know what features are worth spending money on or if you can go with a less expensive product.
Here are the major questions you’ll need to ask when purchasing new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The best part about choosing new rain gutters is picking out the style. Gutters will blend in or stand out against your home exterior, depending on your personal preference.
These are the choices you will have, in order of lowest to highest cost:
VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS
Vinyl and plastic are economical choices that are durable in most scenarios, other than extremely cold climates, where they can become brittle. Vinyl and plastic gutters are sufficient in almost every region 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 light and are 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, copper and stainless steel cost the most, but are the most stylish as well. Homeowners in Littleton who purchase these materials are searching for an elegant touch, and that’s just what they’ll get!
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?
Almost all of the gutter materials above offer both of these options below:
SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS
Sectional gutters – These types of rain gutters come in smaller sections, so they are easier to install. In fact, most homeowners choose to install their own sectional gutters. This type is the more affordable choice, and they have more seams, which means more sections where leaks are going to occur.
Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters should be installed by a local contractor because they require special tools. They’re more expensive to buy and 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 excellent with almost any style of home. They are better for angled roofs, which are more common. This one of the reasons for their popularity. And, they are not hard to install. Many homeowners are capable 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 regal, classic curb appeal. However, modern styles made from vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, being lightweight and highly functional. Half-Round rain gutters are a lot harder to install, but easier to clean, when the time comes for gutter cleaning.
DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?
The climate of the city you live in will determine a lot about what gutters you can havecontractors 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 online 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 maximum amount of rain that can happen within a 5-minute span.
Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a simple length times width calculation for standard roofs. But, you will need to factor in 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 you estimate how much rainfall will be collected, regardless of the average rainfall statistics.
DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?
Snowfall is included in average precipitation calculations, but you also want to consider the potential for ice dams. If it snows regularly in your city, you should seek professional guidance about the type of gutters that help to prevent ice dams, which might severely damage your roof.
Of course, the last question is arguably the most important …
HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?
You also need to ask yourself if you’re going to try to do the work yourself, or if you are going to pay a professional to install your new gutters. Professional installation will ensure maximum efficiency, versus doing it yourself.
Most homeowners are better off paying a little extra for professional labor, to ensure that the job will be done right. An added bonus of hiring Littleton Gutter Cleaning to install your new gutters is that we will help you answer all your questions about new gutters so that you are able to find the best style and type.