Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?
The number one thing to ask yourself when you are planning to install new gutters is, “Why?” This important question will help you answer the subsequent questions you’ll have before making your final selection.
In our experience as a local gutter service, here are three reasons homeowners might be in the market for new rain gutters:
An Upgrade – Switching out the rain gutters can drastically impact the exterior style of your house, increasing its look in a more subtle way than painting or landscaping.
A New House – Designing a new home comes with a constant stream of choices about appearance and functionality. Gutters are no exception. Choosing the gutters that go on your house is important because they will need to last approximately 15 years.
A Renovation – If the roof on your home been damaged, the gutters might need to be replaced. Or, they could simply be deteriorating and need to be replaced with new ones.
You know why you are replacing the gutters, but the reason usually has underlying motivations…
You want to sell your home.
You want to renovate without spending a lot of money.
Your landscaping is being damaged by ineffective gutters.
Determining your “Why” will help to give you direction while you are shopping. 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 need to ask when purchasing new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The best part about choosing new gutters is choosing the materials. Gutters can blend in or stand out against your home, depending on your preference.
These are the options you will have, in order of lowest to highest cost:
VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS
Vinyl and plastic are affordable options that hold up well in most scenarios, except in cold climates, where they can deteriorate. Vinyl and plastic gutters are efficient in most regions of the country, and they are available in a wide variety of colors.
METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS
These reasonably priced options are stylish and durable. Both of these materials come in a wide range of colors as well. They are fairly lightweight and are easy to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) are able to fend off rust and corrosion even better.
COPPER & STAINLESS STEEL GUTTERS
Of all the gutter materials available, copper and stainless steel are the most expensive, but are the most eye-catching as well. Homeowners in East Providence who purchase these materials are searching for an elegant touch, and that’s just what they’ll get!
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?
Most of the gutter options above will offer both of these options:
SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS
Sectional gutters – These rain gutters are made in smaller sections, so they are easier 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 can occur.
Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters will need to be installed by a contractor because they need specialized tools. They’re more expensive to purchase and to install, but less likely to leak than sectional gutters.
K-STYLE OR HALF-ROUND GUTTERS
K-Style – K-Style gutters are popular because they look excellent with every style of home. They are better for angled roofs, which are 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 traditionally made of copper and steel, and they recommended for rounded roofs, popular prior to 1950, so they provide homes a regal, established curb appeal. However, modern styles made from vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, because they are lightweight and functional. Half-Round gutters are 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 dictate a lot about what gutters you can have. As we already mentioned, certain types of materials will not hold up well in cold climates.
The most important climate factor to consider is how much work the gutters will need to do. Essentially, how much water are your gutters going to have to withstand?
Professional gutter contractors in East Providence will take several factors into account to determine the size and type of gutters that are going to work best for your house.
WHAT IS THE FORMULA?
Luckily, the formula professional home exterior 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 can also look into 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 residential roofs. But, you want 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. Figuring out your roof-pitch factor is going to help to calculate how much rainfall will be collected, regardless of the average rainfall statistics.
DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?
Snowfall will be factored into precipitation calculations, but you definitely want to consider the potential for ice dams forming on your roof. If it snows often in your city, you need to seek professional guidance concerning the type of rain gutters that help to prevent ice dams, which can really damage your 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 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 will ensure efficiency, versus doing it yourself.
Most homeowners should consider paying a little extra for labor, to ensure that the job will be done right. An added bonus of hiring EP Gutter Specialists to install your gutters is that we will help you answer all of your questions about gutters so that you find the perfect style and type for your home.