Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?
The number one thing to ask yourself when you are purchasing new gutters is, “Why?” This question will help to answer the following questions you’ll have before making your selection.
In our experience as a local gutter service, here are only three reasons homeowners will be in the market for new gutters:
An Upgrade – Installing new rain gutters can significantly impact the exterior style of your home, enhancing its look in a subtler way than painting or new landscaping.
A New House – Designing a home comes with a constant stream of decisions about both appearance and functionality. Gutters are no exception. Choosing the first gutters that go on your home is important because they will need to last at least 15-20 years or more.
A Renovation – If your roof has suffered damage, the gutters may have to be replaced. Or, they might simply be getting too old and need to be replaced with new ones.
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 being ruined by ineffective gutters.
Figuring out your “Why” will help to give you direction while you are shopping. You’ll know what features are worth spending your money on or if you can choose a more affordable product.
Here are the major questions you’ll have when it’s time to purchase new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The fun part of purchasing new rain 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 cost:
VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS
Vinyl and plastic are economical options that are durable in most cases, other than extremely cold climates, where they will deteriorate. Vinyl and plastic gutters are sufficient in most regions of the country, and they are available in a wide range of colors.
METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS
These reasonably priced materials are both attractive and durable. Both of these materials are available in a variety of colors as well. They are fairly lightweight and easy to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) will withstand 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 Canton who decide on these options are looking for an elegant touch, and that’s just what they’ll get!
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?
Most of the gutter materials above will offer both of these options below:
SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS
Sectional gutters – These gutters are made in smaller sections, so they’re easy to install. In fact, homeowners decide to install their own sectional gutters. This type is the more affordable choice, and they have more seams, which means more areas 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 popular because they look excellent with every style of home. They are better for angled roofs, which are far more common. This speaks to their popularity. In addition, they are easy 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 complement rounded roofs, popular before 1950, so they provide homes a luxurious, established curb appeal. However, more modern styles made out of vinyl and plastic provide the best of both worlds, being both lightweight and highly functional. Half-Round gutters are much harder to install, but much easier to clean, when it’s time for gutter cleaning.
DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?
The climate of the region you live in may determine a lot about what gutters you should install. Like we mentioned, some materials will not hold up in cold climates.
The single most important climate factor is how much work the gutters will have to do. In other words, how much rain or water are the gutters going to have to withstand?
Professional gutter installers in Canton are going to take many factors into consideration to get a good idea of the size and type of gutters that are going to work the 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 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 standard roofs. But, you will need to figure all the surfaces of multi-faceted roofs.
Roof-Pitch Factor – A steep roof will collect more wind-blown rain than a less sloped roof. Determining your roof-pitch factor is going to help you determine how much rainfall will actually be collected, regardless of the rainfall statistics found online.
DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?
Snowfall will be included in average precipitation calculations, but you also want to be aware of the potential for ice dams. If it snows a lot in your region, you should seek professional guidance concerning the type of gutters that best prevent ice dams, which can severely damage your 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 on your own, or if you want to enlist the services of a professional to install your new 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 right. An added bonus of hiring Canton Gutters, Inc. to install the new gutters is that we will help you answer all your questions about new gutters so that you are able to find the perfect style and type.