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 pivotal question will help to answer the questions you’ll have before making your ultimate 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 – Switching out the rain gutters can really affect the curb appeal of your home, improving its look in a subtler way than painting or landscaping.

A New House – Designing a new home comes with a lot of of decisions about both appearance and functionality. Gutters are no exception. Choosing the gutters that go on your home is important because they will need to last at least 20 years.

A Renovation – If the roof on your home is damaged, the gutters might need to be replaced. Or, they might simply be getting too old and need to be replaced with new ones.

You will know why you are installing new gutters on your home, but the reason often 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.

Determining your “Why” will often give you direction while you are shopping for new gutters. You’ll know what features are worth spending your money on or if you can go with a more affordable product.

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

HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?

The fun part about purchasing new rain gutters is choosing the style. Gutters will blend in or stand out against your house, depending on your preference.

These are the choices you will have, in order of lowest to highest cost:

VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS

Vinyl and plastic are economical choices that hold up well in most cases, except in extremely 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 materials are both attractive and durable. Both materials come in a wide range of colors too. 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 are the most expensive, but are the most attractive as well. Homeowners in Union City who decide on these options are looking for an elegant touch, and that’s what they’ll get!

WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?

Almost all of the gutter materials above offer these options below:

SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS

Sectional gutters – These gutters are made in smaller sections, so they are easier to install. In fact, many homeowners choose to install their own sectional gutters on their own. This type is the more affordable choice, and they are made with more seams, which means there are more areas where leaks are going to occur.

Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters need to be installed by a professional contractor because they require special equipment. They’re more expensive to purchase 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 almost any style of home. They’re better for angled roofs, which are far more common. This speaks to their popularity. Plus, 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 are best for rounded roofs, popular before 1950, so they give homes a regal, established appearance. However, modern styles made from vinyl and plastic provide the best of both worlds, because they are lightweight and functional. Half-Round gutters are harder to install, but much easier to clean, when the time comes for gutter cleaning.

DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?

The climate of the city you live in may dictate a lot about the gutters you should purchase. Like we mentioned, certain materials don’t hold up well in extremely cold climates.

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

Professional gutter contractors in Union City are going to take many factors into consideration to get a good idea of the size and the type of rain gutters that will work the best for your home.

WHAT IS THE FORMULA?

Luckily, the formula professional 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 should also look into the maximum rainfall intensity for the city you live in. This is the max amount of rain that occurs within a 5-minute span.

Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a simple length times width calculation for basic 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 less sloped roof. Determining your roof-pitch factor is going to 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 going to be 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 regularly in your city, you need to seek professional guidance about the type of rain gutters that help to prevent ice dams from forming, which could severely damage your roof.

Of course, the last question is possibly the most important …

HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?

You also have to ask yourself if you’re willing to do the work yourself, or if you are going to hire 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 installation will be done correctly. Another bonus of hiring UC Gutter Cleaning to install your gutters is that we will help you answer all of your questions about new gutters so that you find the perfect style and type for your home.