Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?
The first thing to ask yourself when you are planning to install new gutters is, “Why?” This pivotal question will help you answer most 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 might be shopping for new gutters:
An Upgrade – Installing new rain gutters can significantly impact the exterior style of your home, improving its look in a subtler way than painting or new landscaping.
A New Home – Building a home comes with a constant stream of choices about appearance and functionality. Gutters included. Choosing the gutters that go on your house is important because they should last approximately 15 years or more.
A Renovation – If your home’s roof is damaged, the gutters might have to be replaced. Or, they could simply be getting too old and need to be replaced with new ones.
You obviously know why you are installing new rain gutters on your home, but the reason often has underlying motivations…
You want to sell your house.
You want to renovate without spending a lot of money.
Your landscaping is being damaged by ineffective gutters.
Figuring out your “Why” will give you 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 want to consider when purchasing new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The fun part of purchasing new gutters is picking out the style. Gutters can blend in or stand out against your house, 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 materials that are durable in most cases, other than cold climates, where they will deteriorate. Vinyl and plastic gutters are efficient in most regions of the country, and they come in a wide range of colors.
METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS
These mid-priced materials are attractive and durable. Both materials are available in a wide range of colors as well. They are fairly lightweight and are not hard to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) are able to withstand 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 attractive as well. Homeowners in Plymouth who decide on these materials are looking for an elegant touch, and that’s what they’ll get!
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?
Most of the gutter materials above will offer both of these options:
SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS
Sectional gutters – These types of rain gutters are made in smaller sections, so they are easier to install. In fact, many 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 sections where leaks are going to occur.
Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters need to be installed by a professional contractor because they need specialized tools. 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 almost any style of home. They’re better for angled roofs, which are far 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 are best for rounded roofs, popular prior to 1950, so they give homes a regal, established curb appeal. However, modern styles made out of vinyl and plastic provide the best of both worlds, because they are both lightweight and highly functional. Half-Round rain gutters are a lot harder to install, but much easier to clean out, when the time comes for gutter cleaning.
DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?
The climate of the region you live in will dictate a lot about which gutters you can have. As we already mentioned, some types of materials will not hold up well in extremely cold climates.
The most important climate factor to consider is how much work the gutters will need to do. Basically, how much water are your gutters going to have to withstand?
Professional gutter installers in Plymouth will take several factors into consideration to get a good idea of the size and the type of rain gutters that will work best for your house.
WHAT IS THE FORMULA?
Luckily, the formula professional 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 on the National Weather Service or the U.S. Weather Bureau website. You should also check the maximum rainfall intensity for the city you live in. This is the max amount of rain that occurs within a 5-minute span.
Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a standard length times width calculation for residential roofs. However, you will need to figure 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. Knowing your roof-pitch factor is going to help you estimate how much rainfall will be collected, regardless of the rainfall statistics.
DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?
Snowfall is going to be factored into 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 concerning the type of rain 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 gutters. Professional installation ensures efficiency, instead of doing it yourself.
Most homeowners are better off paying a little extra for labor, knowing that the job will be done correctly. Another bonus of hiring Premiere Gutters of Plymouth to install the new gutters is that we can help you answer all your questions about new gutters so that you find the perfect style and type for your home.