Which Gutters Are Right For Your Home?
The number one thing to consider when you are purchasing new gutters is, “Why?” This important question will help to answer 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 in the market for new gutters:
An Upgrade – Installing new rain gutters can significantly affect the curb appeal of your home, enhancing its look in a more subtle way than painting or new landscaping.
A New Home – Designing a new home comes with a lot of of decisions about both appearance and functionality. Gutters are no exception. Choosing the first gutters that go on your house is important because they should last at least 20 years.
A Renovation – If the roof on your home has had damage, the gutters might have to be replaced, too. Or, they might simply be deteriorating and need to be replaced with new ones.
You know why you are replacing the gutters on your home, but the reason typically has underlying motivations…
You want to sell your house.
You want to renovate but not spend a lot of money.
Your landscaping is getting ruined by ineffective gutters.
Determining your “Why” will give you direction while you are shopping for new gutters. You’ll know if certain features are worth spending your money on or if you can go with a less expensive product.
Here are the major questions you’ll have when it’s time to install new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The best part about installing new gutters is choosing the materials. Gutters will blend in or stand out against your home exterior, depending on your personal preference.
These are the choices for materials, in order of cost:
VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS
Vinyl and plastic are affordable materials that are durable in most scenarios, besides cold climates, where they will wear down. Vinyl and plastic gutters are efficient in nearly every region of the country, and they are available in a wide variety of colors.
METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS
These mid-priced materials are stylish and durable. Both materials come in a wide range of colors as well. They are fairly light and are not hard to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) will resist rust and corrosion even better.
COPPER & STAINLESS STEEL GUTTERS
Of all the gutter materials, copper and stainless steel cost the most, but the most eye-catching as well. Homeowners in Leominster who purchase these options are searching for an elegant touch, and that’s what they’ll get!
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?
Almost all of the gutter types above offer these options below:
SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS
Sectional gutters – These types of gutters come in smaller sections, so they’re easy 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 there are more areas where leaks can occur.
Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters should be installed by a professional contractor because they require special tools. They’re 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’re better for angled roofs, which are far more common. This speaks to their popularity. And, they are not hard 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 are best for rounded roofs, popular prior to 1950, so they give homes a regal, classic curb appeal. However, modern styles made out of vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, being lightweight and highly functional. Half-Round gutters are a lot 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 will dictate a lot about what gutters you should purchase. As we already mentioned, some types of materials will not hold up well in cold climates.
The most important climate factor is how much work the gutters will have to do. In other words, how much rain or water are your gutters going to have to withstand?
Professional gutter contractors in Leominster can take many factors into account to get a good idea of the size and type of rain gutters that are going to work best for your home.
WHAT IS THE FORMULA?
Luckily, the formula professional gutter 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 your area. This is the max amount of rain that will occur within a 5-minute span.
Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a simple length times width calculation for standard roofs. However, you will 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 less sloped roof. Knowing 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 will be factored into average precipitation calculations, but you definitely want to be aware of the potential for ice dams. If it snows a lot in your state, you need to seek professional guidance concerning the type of gutters that best prevent ice dams, which could really damage your roof.
Of course, the last question is possibly the most important …
HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?
You also need to ask yourself if you’re willing to do the work on your own, or if you are going to enlist the services of a professional to install your gutters. Professional installation will ensure maximum efficiency, instead of doing it yourself.
Most homeowners should consider paying a little extra for labor, knowing that the installation will be done right. Another bonus of hiring All Pro Gutters to install your gutters is that we are able to help you answer all of your questions about new gutters so that you are able to find the best style and type.