Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?

The number one thing to consider when you are shopping for new gutters is, “Why?” This question will help you answer most of the following questions you’ll have before making your ultimate selection.

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

An Upgrade – Installing new gutters can drastically impact the appearance of your home, increasing its look in a more subtle way than painting or landscaping.

A New Home – Building a new 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 home is important because they should last at least 20 years or more.

A Renovation – If the roof on your home has had damage, the gutters might need to be replaced, too. Or, they could just be wearing down and need to be replaced.

You 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 ruined by ineffective gutters.

Figuring out your “Why” will often provide direction while you are shopping. You’ll know if certain features are must-haves or if you can choose a less expensive product.

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

HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?

The best part about installing new gutters is picking out the materials. Gutters will blend in or stand out against your home, depending on your preference.

These are the choices you will have, 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 can become brittle. Vinyl and plastic gutters are acceptable in almost every region of the country, and they are available in a wide variety of colors.

METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS

These reasonably priced materials are both stylish and durable. Both of these materials are available in a variety of colors too. They are fairly light and not hard 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 are the most expensive, but the most eye-catching as well. Homeowners in Durham who decide on these options are looking for an elegant touch, and that’s exactly what they’ll get!

WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?

Most of the gutter options above will offer 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. This type is the more affordable choice, and they are made with more seams, which means there are more sections where leaks are going to occur.

Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters need to be installed by a local contractor because they require special equipment. They are 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 great with almost any style of home. They are better for angled roofs, which are far more common. This speaks to their popularity. Plus, they are not hard to install. Most 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 give homes a luxurious, established curb appeal. However, more modern styles made out of vinyl and plastic provide the best of both worlds, being both lightweight and highly functional. Half-Round rain gutters are a lot harder to install, but they are easier to clean, when the time comes for gutter cleaning.

DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?

The climate of the city you live in will determine a lot about which gutters you should purchase. As we already mentioned, some types of materials don’t hold up in extremely cold climates.

The single most important climate factor is how much work the gutters will need to do. Essentially, how much water are your gutters going to have to withstand?

Professional gutter installers in Durham can take many factors into account to get a good idea of the size and the type of gutters that will work best for your roof.

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 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 the city you live in. This is the max amount of rain that will occur within a 5-minute span.

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

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 a lot in your state, you should seek professional guidance concerning the type of rain gutters that best prevent ice dams from forming, which could severely damage your home’s roof.

Of course, the final question is probably the most important …

HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?

You also have to ask yourself if you’re going to do the work yourself, or if you want to enlist the services of a professional to install your gutters. Professional installation ensures efficiency, versus doing it yourself.

Most homeowners should consider paying a little extra for labor, knowing that the job will be done correctly. Another bonus of hiring Durham Gutter Defense to install the new gutters is that we are able to help you answer all your questions about new gutters so that you are able to find the best style and type for your home.