Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?

The very first thing to ask yourself when you are shopping for new gutters is, “Why?” This important question will help you answer 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 in the market for new rain gutters:

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

A New Home – Building a home comes with a constant stream of decisions about appearance and functionality. Gutters included. Choosing the first gutters that go on your house is important because they should last at least 15 years.

A Renovation – If your roof been damaged, the gutters might need to be replaced, too. Or, they might simply be wearing down and need to be replaced.

You obviously know why you are replacing the rain gutters, but the reason often has underlying motivations…

You want to sell your house.

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

Your landscaping is being ruined by ineffective gutters.

Determining your “Why” will often provide direction while you are shopping. You’ll know what features are must-haves or if you can choose a more affordable product.

Here are the major questions you’ll want to consider when it’s time to install new gutters.

HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?

The fun part of choosing new rain gutters is choosing the style. Gutters will blend in or stand out against your home exterior, depending on your personal preference.

These are the options for materials, in order of cost:

VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS

Vinyl and plastic are affordable options that are durable in most cases, except in extremely cold climates, where they will deteriorate. Vinyl and plastic gutters are sufficient in most regions of the country, and they come in a wide range of colors.

METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS

These mid-priced materials are both attractive and durable. Both of these materials are available in a variety of colors as well. They are fairly lightweight and not hard to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) withstand rust and corrosion even better.

COPPER & STAINLESS STEEL GUTTERS

Of all the rain gutter materials, copper and stainless steel cost the most, but are the most eye-catching as well. Homeowners in Burlington who choose 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 will offer both of these options:

SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS

Sectional gutters – These gutters come in smaller sections, so they are easier to install. In fact, many homeowners decide to install their own sectional gutters. 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 should be installed by a contractor because they require specialized tools. They’re more expensive to order 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 popular because they look great with almost any style of home. They’re better for angled roofs, which are more common. This attributes to their popularity. Plus, they are easy to install. Most homeowners are capable enough to install their own K-Style gutters.

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 provide homes a luxurious, classic appearance. However, modern styles made out of vinyl and plastic provide the best of both worlds, being both lightweight and highly functional. Half-Round gutters are a lot 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 the gutters you should install. As we mentioned, some types of materials don’t hold up well in cold climates.

The most important climate factor to think about is how much work the gutters will have to do. Basically, how much rain or water are your gutters going to have to handle?

Professional gutter companies in Burlington will take many factors into account to determine the size and type of rain gutters that are going to work the best for your house.

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 weather statistic is available 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 will occur 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 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 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 consider the potential for ice dams forming on your roof. If it snows often in your state, you should seek professional guidance about the type of rain gutters that help to prevent ice dams, which might severely damage your roof.

Of course, the last question is arguably 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 want to hire a professional to install your gutters. Professional installation ensures efficiency, instead of doing it yourself.

Most homeowners are better off paying a little extra for labor, knowing that the job will be done right. An added bonus of hiring Better Burlington Gutters to install the gutters is that we will help you answer all of your questions about new gutters so that you are able to find the perfect style and type.