Which Gutters Are Right For Your Home?
The number one thing to ask yourself when you are shopping for new gutters is, “Why?” This pivotal 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 three reasons homeowners will be in the market for new rain gutters:
An Upgrade – Installing new rain gutters can really affect the appearance of your home, enhancing its look in a more subtle way than painting or new landscaping.
A New House – Designing a new home comes with a lot of of choices about appearance and functionality. Rain gutters included. Deciding on 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 is damaged, the gutters may have to be replaced, too. Or, they may simply be deteriorating and need to be replaced with new ones.
You 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 too much money.
Your landscaping is being ruined by ineffective gutters.
Determining your “Why” will help to provide direction while you are shopping. You’ll know what features are worth spending your money on or if you can go with a more affordable product.
Here are the major questions you’ll want to consider when it’s time to purchase new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The best part about installing new rain gutters is choosing the materials. 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 cases, except in extremely cold climates, where they can become brittle. Vinyl and plastic gutters are acceptable in most regions of the country, and they come in a wide variety of colors.
METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS
These mid-priced materials are both stylish and durable. Both materials are available in a variety of colors as well. They are fairly light and not difficult to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) will 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 the most stylish as well. Homeowners in Lawrence who choose 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 types above will offer these options:
SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS
Sectional gutters – These types of rain 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 sections where leaks are going to occur.
Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters need to be installed by a professional contractor because they need special equipment. They’re 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 every style of home. They’re better for angled roofs, which are more common. This one of the reasons for their popularity. And, they are easy 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 complement rounded roofs, popular before 1950, so they give homes a luxurious, classic appearance. However, more modern styles made from vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, being lightweight and functional. Half-Round rain gutters are a lot harder to install, but easier to clean out, when it’s time for gutter cleaning.
DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?
The climate of your region will determine a lot about the gutters you can have. Like we mentioned, certain materials will not hold up in cold climates.
The single most important climate factor to consider is how much work the gutters will need to do. In other words, how much water are your gutters going to need to withstand?
Professional gutter companies in Lawrence can take a lot of factors into consideration to get a good idea of the size and 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 the city you live in. This is the maximum 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. However, you will have 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. Determining your roof-pitch factor is going to help to determine how much rainfall will be collected, regardless of the average rainfall statistics.
DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?
Snowfall is factored into average precipitation calculations, but you also want to be aware of the potential for ice dams forming on your roof. If it snows often in your region, you should seek professional guidance concerning the type of rain gutters that help to prevent ice dams, which could severely damage your roof.
Of course, the last 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 ensures maximum efficiency, versus doing it yourself.
Most homeowners are better off paying a little extra for professional labor, to ensure that the installation will be done correctly. Another bonus of hiring Lawrence 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 perfect style and type for your home.