Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?
The very first thing to consider when you are shopping for new gutters is, “Why?” This important question will help to answer the following 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 gutters:
An Upgrade – Installing new gutters can drastically impact the curb appeal of your home, improving its look in a subtler way than painting or landscaping.
A New Home – Building a home comes with a lot of of decisions about appearance and functionality. Gutters included. Deciding on the first gutters that go on your house is important because they will need to last at least 15 years or more.
A Renovation – If the roof on your home has experienced damage, the gutters might have to be replaced, too. Or, they might simply be deteriorating and need to be replaced with new ones.
You will 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 ruined by ineffective gutters.
Figuring out your “Why” will help to provide direction while you are shopping. You’ll know which features are important or if you can go with a less expensive product.
Here are the major questions you’ll have when it’s time to install new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The best part of choosing 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 choices for materials, in order of lowest to highest cost:
VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS
Vinyl and plastic are economical choices that are durable in most cases, other than cold climates, where they will deteriorate. Vinyl and plastic gutters are sufficient in almost every region of the country, and they come in a wide variety of colors.
METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS
These reasonably priced options are stylish and durable. Both materials are available in a variety of colors as well. They are fairly lightweight and are 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 stylish as well. Homeowners in Lakewood 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 options above will offer both of these options:
SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS
Sectional gutters – These types of gutters come in smaller sections, so they are easier to install. In fact, homeowners choose to install their own sectional gutters. This type is the less expensive 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 need special tools. They’re more expensive to buy and to 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 excellent with every 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 easy to install. Many homeowners are proficient 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 give homes a luxurious, established curb appeal. However, more modern styles made from vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, because they are both lightweight and highly functional. Half-Round rain gutters are a lot harder to install, but easier to clean, when the time comes for gutter cleaning.
DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?
The climate of your region will dictate a lot about which gutters you can have. As we mentioned, some types of materials will not hold up in extremely cold climates.
The single most important climate factor to consider is how much work the gutters will need to do. Essentially, how much rain or water are the gutters going to need to withstand?
Professional gutter contractors in Lakewood are going to take several factors into account to get a good idea of the size and the type of gutters that will work the best for your house.
WHAT IS THE FORMULA?
Luckily, the formula professional 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 on the National Weather Service or the U.S. Weather Bureau website. You can also find 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 standard length times width calculation for basic roofs. However, you will want 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. Determining your roof-pitch factor is going to help to estimate how much rainfall will actually be collected, regardless of the average rainfall statistics.
DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?
Snowfall is included in average precipitation calculations, but you also want to consider the potential for ice dams. If it snows often in your region, you should seek professional guidance concerning the type of rain gutters that best prevent ice dams from forming, which can really damage your home’s roof.
Of course, the final question is arguably the most important …
HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?
You also have to ask yourself if you’re going to try to do the work yourself, or if you are going to hire a professional to install your new gutters. Professional installation ensures efficiency, instead of doing it yourself.
Most homeowners are better off paying a little extra for professional labor, knowing that the installation will be done correctly. Another bonus of hiring Lakewood Gutter Cleaning to install the new gutters is that we can help you answer all of your questions about new gutters so that you are able to find the perfect style and type.