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 you answer many of the questions you’ll have before purchasing your final selection.
In our experience as a local gutter service, here are just three reasons homeowners will be shopping for new gutters:
An Upgrade – Switching out the gutters can drastically impact the appearance of your home, improving its look in a subtler way than painting or landscaping.
A New Home – Building a new home comes with a constant stream of decisions about both appearance and functionality. Rain gutters included. Deciding on the gutters that go on your house is important because they will need to last at least 15-20 years.
A Renovation – If the roof on your home been damaged, the gutters might have to be replaced, too. Or, they might simply be getting too old and need to be replaced.
You will know why you are replacing the rain gutters on your home, but the reason usually has underlying motivations…
You want to sell your house.
You want to renovate but not spend a lot of money.
Your landscaping is getting damaged by ineffective gutters.
Figuring out your “Why” will often give you direction while you are shopping for new gutters. You’ll know which features are important or if you can go with a more affordable product.
Here are the major questions you’ll have when purchasing new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The fun part of choosing new rain gutters is choosing the style. Gutters can blend in or stand out against your home exterior, depending on your personal preference.
These are the choices for materials, in order of lowest to highest cost:
VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS
Vinyl and plastic are affordable choices that are durable in most scenarios, besides extremely 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 range of colors.
METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS
These mid-priced materials are stylish and durable. Both materials come in a variety of colors as well. They are fairly light and not difficult 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 gutter materials available, copper and stainless steel cost the most, but are the most attractive as well. Homeowners in Berwyn who choose these materials are searching for an elegant touch, and that’s exactly what they’ll get!
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?
Most of the gutter types above will offer these options:
SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS
Sectional gutters – These types of gutters are made in smaller sections, so they’re easier to install. In fact, many homeowners choose to install their own sectional gutters on their own. This type is the more affordable choice, and they are made with more seams, which means there are more sections where leaks are going to occur.
Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters need to be installed by a local contractor because they need special tools. They’re more expensive to buy and install, but they are 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 excellent with every style of home. They’re better for angled roofs, which are far more common. This speaks to their popularity. And, they are not hard to install. Most 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 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 highly functional. Half-Round gutters are a lot harder to install, but they are easier to clean out, when it’s time for gutter cleaning.
DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?
The climate of the region you live in will determine a lot about what gutters you should purchase. Like we mentioned, certain materials will not hold up well in cold climates.
The single 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 need to withstand?
Professional gutter installers in Berwyn can take many factors into account to get a good idea of the size and the type of rain gutters that will work the best for your home.
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 statistic can be found online 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 maximum 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. But, you want 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. Determining your roof-pitch factor is going to help you estimate how much rainfall will actually be collected, regardless of the rainfall statistics.
DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?
Snowfall will be included in precipitation calculations, but you also want to consider the potential for ice dams forming on your roof. If it snows a lot in your city, you should seek professional guidance concerning the type of rain gutters that best prevent ice dams from forming, which could 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 willing to do the work yourself, or if you want to hire a professional to install your new gutters. Professional installation ensures maximum efficiency, compared to doing it yourself.
Most homeowners should consider paying a little extra for professional labor, to ensure that the job will be done correctly. An added bonus of hiring Berwyn Gutter Cleaning to install your gutters is that we will help you answer all of your questions about gutters so that you are able to find the best style and type.