Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?
The first thing to consider when you are purchasing new gutters is, “Why?” This important question will help you answer most of the questions you’ll have before making your final selection.
In our experience as a local gutter service, here are three reasons homeowners might be shopping for new gutters:
An Upgrade – Switching out the gutters can significantly affect the curb appeal of your home, improving its look in a more subtle way than painting or new landscaping.
A New Home – Building a new home comes with a constant stream of decisions about appearance and functionality. Rain gutters included. Deciding on the gutters that go on your house is important because they should last at least 20 years.
A Renovation – If your home’s roof been damaged, the gutters might need to be replaced, too. Or, they might simply be aging and need to be replaced.
You know why you are replacing the rain gutters, but the reason typically has underlying motivations…
You want to sell your house.
You want to renovate without spending a lot of money.
Your landscaping is getting damaged by ineffective gutters.
Determining your “Why” will 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 questions you’ll want to consider 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 house, depending on your preference.
These are the choices for materials, in order of lowest to highest cost:
VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS
Vinyl and plastic are economical materials that are durable in most scenarios, other than 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 range of colors.
METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS
These reasonably priced materials are stylish and durable. Both of these materials come in a variety of colors too. They are fairly lightweight and easy 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 rain gutter materials, copper and stainless steel are the most expensive, but the most stylish as well. Homeowners in Clifton who decide on these options are looking for an elegant touch, and that’s what they’ll get!
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?
Most of the gutter options above offer these options:
SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS
Sectional gutters – These rain 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 less expensive choice, and they are made with more seams, which means more areas where leaks are going to occur.
Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters should be installed by a contractor because they require special tools. They’re more expensive to order 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 great with virtually any style of home. They’re better for angled roofs, which are more common. This one of the reasons for their popularity. In addition, they are not hard to install. Most homeowners are proficient 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 before 1950, so they give homes a luxurious, established curb appeal. However, modern styles made from vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, because they are both lightweight and highly functional. Half-Round gutters are harder to install, but much easier to clean, when it’s time for gutter cleaning.
DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?
The climate of the city you live in will dictate a lot about the gutters you should install. As we mentioned, certain materials will not hold up in cold climates.
The most important climate factor to consider is how much work the gutters will need to do. Essentially, how much water are the gutters going to have to withstand?
Professional gutter installers in Clifton will take a lot of factors into consideration to determine the size and type of rain gutters that are going to work the best for your house.
WHAT IS THE FORMULA?
Luckily, the formula professional home exterior 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 look into the maximum rainfall intensity for your area. This is the max amount of rain that occurs within a 5-minute span.
Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a simple length times width calculation for basic roofs. However, you have to factor in all the surfaces of multi-faceted roofs.
Roof-Pitch Factor – A roof that is steep will collect more wind-blown rain than a less sloped roof. Determining your roof-pitch factor is going to help you estimate how much rainfall will actually be collected, regardless of the average rainfall statistics.
DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?
Snowfall is included in precipitation calculations, but you also want to consider the potential for ice dams. If it snows a lot in your state, you should 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 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 want to hire a professional to install your gutters. Professional installation will ensure maximum efficiency, versus 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 Clifton Gutter Solutions to install your new gutters is that we can help you answer all of your questions about gutters so that you find the perfect style and type for your home.