Which Gutters Are Right For Your Home?
The first thing to consider when you are shopping for new gutters is, “Why?” This question will help to answer most of the questions you’ll have before purchasing your ultimate selection.
In our experience as a local gutter service, here are only three reasons homeowners will be shopping for new gutters:
An Upgrade – Installing new rain gutters can really impact the appearance of your home, increasing its look in a subtler way than painting or landscaping.
A New House – Designing a home comes with a lot of of choices about both appearance and functionality. Gutters are one of them. Deciding on the gutters that go on your house is important because they will need to last at least 20 years.
A Renovation – If your home’s roof has suffered damage, the gutters might have to be replaced. Or, they might simply be aging and need to be replaced with new ones.
You obviously know why you are replacing the gutters on your home, but the reason usually has underlying motivations…
You want to sell your home.
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 must-haves or if you can go with a less expensive product.
Here are the major questions you’ll have when purchasing new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The best part of choosing new gutters is picking out the style. Gutters can blend in or stand out against your house, 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 options that are durable in most cases, besides extremely cold climates, where they will wear down. Vinyl and plastic gutters are acceptable in nearly every region of the country, and they come in a wide range of colors.
METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS
These mid-priced options are both stylish 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) are able to withstand rust and corrosion even better.
COPPER & STAINLESS STEEL GUTTERS
Of all the gutter materials, copper and stainless steel cost the most, but are the most attractive as well. Homeowners in Rochester Hills who decide on these options are looking for an elegant touch, and that’s just what they’ll get!
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?
Almost all of the gutter options above offer both of 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, 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 there are more sections where leaks are going to occur.
Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters need to be installed by a professional contractor because they require special 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 excellent with every style of home. They are better for angled roofs, which are far more common. This speaks to their popularity. And, they are not hard to install. Most homeowners are capable enough to install their own K-Style gutters by themselves.
Half-Round – Half-Round gutters are usually made of copper and steel, and they recommended for rounded roofs, popular before 1950, so they provide homes a regal, classic appearance. However, modern styles made from vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, because they are both lightweight and functional. Half-Round gutters are a lot harder to install, but much easier to clean, when the time comes for gutter cleaning.
DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?
The climate of your region will dictate a lot about the gutters you can have. Like we already mentioned, certain types of materials don’t hold up well in extremely cold climates.
The most important climate factor is how much work the gutters will need to do. Essentially, how much rain or water are the gutters going to have to handle?
Professional gutter installers in Rochester Hills can take a lot of factors into consideration to determine the size and type of rain gutters that will work the best for your house.
WHAT IS THE FORMULA?
Luckily, the formula professional home exterior 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 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 your area. This is the maximum amount of rain that occurs within a 5-minute span.
Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a standard length times width calculation for basic roofs. But, you will have to figure 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 is going to help you estimate how much rainfall will be collected, regardless of the rainfall statistics.
DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?
Snowfall is going to be included in average precipitation calculations, but you also want to consider 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 from forming, which can severely damage your home’s roof.
Of course, the final 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 are going to pay a professional to install your gutters. Professional installation will ensure maximum efficiency, versus doing it yourself.
Most homeowners should consider paying a little extra for labor, to ensure that the installation will be done correctly. Another bonus of hiring Rochester Hills Gutters to install the gutters is that we will help you answer all of your questions about new gutters so that you find the best style and type for your home.