Which Gutters Are Right For Your Home?
The very first thing to consider when you are purchasing new gutters is, “Why?” This question will help to answer the questions you’ll have before making your selection.
In our experience as a local gutter service, here are three reasons homeowners will be in the market for new gutters:
An Upgrade – Switching out the rain gutters can really impact the appearance of your house, improving its look in a more subtle way than painting or landscaping.
A New House – Building a new home comes with a lot of choices about appearance and functionality. Rain gutters included. Choosing the first gutters that go on your home is important because they will need to last at least 20 years.
A Renovation – If the roof on your home been damaged, the gutters may have to be replaced, too. Or, they could simply be wearing down and need to be replaced with new ones.
You will know why you are replacing the gutters on your home, but the reason usually 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 for new gutters. You’ll know which features are must-haves or if you can go with a less expensive product.
Here are the questions you’ll need to ask when purchasing new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The best part of installing new rain gutters is picking out the materials. Gutters can blend in or stand out against your home, depending on your personal preference.
These are the options you will have, in order of lowest to highest cost:
VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS
Vinyl and plastic are economical choices that hold up well in most scenarios, except in extremely cold climates, where they will deteriorate. 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 reasonably priced materials are both stylish and durable. Both of these materials are available in a variety of colors as well. They are fairly lightweight and are 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 rain gutter materials, copper and stainless steel cost the most, but are the most eye-catching as well. Homeowners in Mount Prospect 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 types above offer these options:
SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS
Sectional gutters – These types of gutters come in smaller sections, so they’re easy to install. In fact, most homeowners choose to install their own sectional gutters on their own. This type is the less expensive choice, and they have more seams, which means more sections where leaks can occur.
Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters should be installed by a contractor because they need special tools. They are more expensive to buy 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 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 speaks to their popularity. Plus, they are easy to install. Most homeowners are proficient enough to install their own K-Style gutters by themselves.
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 regal, classic curb appeal. However, more modern styles made from vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, being lightweight and highly functional. Half-Round gutters are much harder to install, but they are easier to clean, when the time comes for gutter cleaning.
DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?
The climate of your region may dictate 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 should also find the maximum rainfall intensity for your area. This is the max amount of rain that can happen within a 5-minute span.
Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a basic length times width calculation for basic roofs. However, 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. Figuring out your roof-pitch factor will 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 precipitation calculations, but you definitely want to consider the potential for ice dams forming on your roof. If it snows regularly in your state, you need to seek professional guidance about the type of gutters that help to prevent ice dams, which can severely 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 try to do the work on your own, or if you want to enlist the services of a professional to install your new gutters. Professional installation will ensure efficiency, instead of doing it yourself.
Most homeowners should consider paying a little extra for labor, to ensure that the installation will be done right. Another bonus of hiring Mount Prospect Gutters to install the new gutters is that we can help you answer all your questions about gutters so that you find the best style and type for your home.