Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?

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

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

An Upgrade – Switching out the gutters can drastically affect the appearance of your home, enhancing its look in a more subtle way than painting or landscaping.

A New House – Designing a new home comes with a lot of of decisions about both appearance and functionality. Rain gutters are one of them. Choosing the first gutters that go on your house is important because they should last approximately 15 years.

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

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

You want to sell your home.

You want to renovate but not spend a lot of money.

Your landscaping is being damaged by ineffective gutters.

Figuring out your “Why” will help to give you direction while you are shopping for new gutters. You’ll know which features are important or if you can choose a less expensive product.

Here are the questions you’ll want to consider when purchasing new gutters.

HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?

The best part of purchasing new rain gutters is picking out the style. Gutters can blend in or stand out against your home exterior, 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 affordable choices that hold up well in most scenarios, other than cold climates, where they can deteriorate. Vinyl and plastic gutters are acceptable in nearly every region of the country, and they are available in a wide range of colors.

METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS

These reasonably priced options are stylish and durable. Both materials are available in a variety of colors too. They are fairly lightweight and are easy to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) fend off rust and corrosion even better.

COPPER & STAINLESS STEEL GUTTERS

Of all the gutter materials available, copper and stainless steel cost the most, but the most attractive as well. Homeowners in Wilson who purchase 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 both of these options:

SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS

Sectional gutters – These rain 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 less expensive choice, and they are made with more seams, which means more sections where leaks can occur.

Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters will need to be installed by a local contractor because they need specialized tools. They are more expensive to order and 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 great with virtually any style of home. They are better for angled roofs, which are far more common. This one of the reasons for 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 usually made of copper and steel, and they are best for rounded roofs, popular prior to 1950, so they provide homes a regal, classic appearance. However, more modern styles made from vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, being both lightweight and functional. Half-Round rain gutters are much harder to install, but much easier to clean out, when it’s time for gutter cleaning.

DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?

The climate of the city you live in may determine a lot about which gutters you can have. As we mentioned, some types of materials don’t hold up well in extremely 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 companies in Wilson are going to take several factors into account to get a good idea of the size and type of rain gutters that will work best for your home.

WHAT IS THE FORMULA?

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

Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a basic length times width calculation for standard roofs. But, you need to factor in 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. Knowing your roof-pitch factor is going to help to estimate how much rainfall will be collected, regardless of the average rainfall statistics found online.

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 forming on your roof. If it snows regularly in your state, you should seek professional guidance concerning the type of gutters that best prevent ice dams from forming, which might really damage your roof.

Of course, the last question is possibly the most important …

HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?

You also have to ask yourself if you’re willing to try 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 ensures maximum efficiency, versus doing it yourself.

Most homeowners should consider paying a little extra for professional labor, to ensure that the job will be done right. An added bonus of hiring Wilson Gutter Service to install your gutters is that we are able to help you answer all your questions about gutters so that you are able to find the perfect style and type.