Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?

The very first thing to consider when you are purchasing new gutters is, “Why?” This pivotal question will help to answer most of the following questions you’ll have before purchasing your final selection.

In our experience as a local gutter service, here are three reasons homeowners might be in the market for new gutters:

An Upgrade – Switching out the gutters can significantly affect the exterior style of your home, increasing its look in a subtler way than painting or landscaping.

A New House – Building a home comes with a lot of of choices about appearance and functionality. Rain gutters are one of them. Deciding on the gutters that go on your house is important because they will need to last approximately 20 years.

A Renovation – If the roof on your home is damaged, the gutters may have to be replaced. Or, they could simply be deteriorating and need to be replaced.

You know why you are replacing the rain gutters on your home, but the reason typically has underlying motivations…

You want to sell your home.

You want to renovate but not spend too much money.

Your landscaping is getting ruined by ineffective gutters.

Figuring out your “Why” will provide 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 more affordable product.

Here are the major questions you’ll need to ask when it’s time to install new gutters.

HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?

The fun part of installing new gutters is picking out the style. Gutters will blend in or stand out against your home, depending on your preference.

These are the choices for materials, in order of cost:

VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS

Vinyl and plastic are economical materials that hold up well in most scenarios, other than cold climates, where they will deteriorate. Vinyl and plastic gutters are sufficient in almost every region of the country, and they come 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 variety of colors as well. They are fairly light and easy 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 available, copper and stainless steel cost the most, but are the most stylish as well. Homeowners in Hamilton who choose these materials are searching for an elegant touch, and that’s exactly what they’ll get!

WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?

Almost all of the gutter materials above will offer both of these options:

SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS

Sectional gutters – These types of rain gutters come in smaller sections, so they are easier to install. In fact, many homeowners decide 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 contractor because they need specialized tools. They are more expensive to buy and to install, but 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 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. Most 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 recommended for rounded roofs, popular prior to 1950, so they provide homes a regal, classic appearance. However, more modern styles made out of vinyl and plastic provide the best of both worlds, being lightweight and 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 dictate a lot about the gutters you should purchase. As we mentioned, certain types of materials don’t hold up in extremely cold climates.

The most important climate factor is how much work the gutters will need to do. Essentially, how much water are the gutters going to need to handle?

Professional gutter installers in Hamilton are going to take a lot of factors into consideration to determine the size and the type of rain gutters that will work the best for your house.

WHAT IS THE FORMULA?

Luckily, the formula professional gutter contractors 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 is available online on the National Weather Service or the U.S. Weather Bureau website. You can also find the maximum rainfall intensity for your area. This is the max amount of rain that will occur within a 5-minute span.

Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a basic 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 roof that is less sloped. Figuring out 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 definitely want to be aware of the potential for ice dams forming on your roof. If it snows often in your state, you should seek professional guidance concerning the type of rain gutters that help to prevent ice dams from forming, which might severely damage your home’s roof.

Of course, the final question is probably 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 enlist the services of a professional to install your new gutters. Professional installation will ensure efficiency, compared to doing it yourself.

Most homeowners should consider paying a little extra for professional labor, to ensure that the installation will be done right. Another bonus of hiring Clean Home Gutters to install the new gutters is that we will help you answer all of your questions about new gutters so that you find the perfect style and type for your home.