Which Gutters Are Right For Your Home?
The first thing to ask yourself when you are shopping for new gutters is, “Why?” This pivotal question will help you answer 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 might be shopping for new gutters:
An Upgrade – Switching out the rain gutters can really affect the exterior style of your home, improving its look in a more subtle way than painting or landscaping.
A New Home – Designing a home comes with a constant stream of decisions about appearance and functionality. Rain gutters included. Choosing the first gutters that go on your house is important because they should last approximately 20 years.
A Renovation – If the roof on your home is damaged, the gutters may need to be replaced, too. Or, they might just be deteriorating and need to be replaced.
You know why you are replacing the gutters on your home, but the reason typically has underlying motivations…
You want to sell your house.
You want to renovate but not spend too much money.
Your landscaping is getting ruined by ineffective gutters.
Figuring out your “Why” will provide direction while you are shopping for new gutters. You’ll know what features are must-haves or if you can choose a more affordable product.
Here are the major questions you’ll need to ask when purchasing new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The best part about installing new gutters is choosing the materials. Gutters will blend in or stand out against your house, depending on your preference.
These are the options you will have, in order of cost:
VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS
Vinyl and plastic are economical options that are durable in most cases, besides cold climates, where they can 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 stylish and durable. Both of these materials come in a wide range of colors too. They are fairly lightweight and easy to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) are able to withstand 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 are the most eye-catching as well. Homeowners in Montgomery who purchase these options are searching for an elegant touch, and that’s what they’ll get!
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?
Most of the gutter options above offer these options below:
SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS
Sectional gutters – These gutters are made in smaller sections, so they’re easy to install. In fact, homeowners choose to install their own sectional gutters. This type is the more affordable choice, and they are made with more seams, which means more areas where leaks can occur.
Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters should be installed by a professional contractor because they require special equipment. They are 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 excellent with every style of home. They’re better for angled roofs, which are more common. This one of the reasons for their popularity. In addition, they are not hard to install. Many homeowners are capable enough to install their own K-Style gutters by themselves.
Half-Round – Half-Round gutters are usually made of copper and steel, and they complement rounded roofs, popular before 1950, so they give homes a luxurious, established appearance. However, more modern styles made out of vinyl and plastic provide the best of both worlds, being both lightweight and highly functional. Half-Round gutters are harder to install, but much easier to clean, when it’s time for gutter cleaning.
DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?
The climate of your region may dictate a lot about what gutters you can havecontractors 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 is available online on the National Weather Service or the U.S. Weather Bureau website. You can also check the maximum rainfall intensity for your area. This is the max amount of rain that can happen within a 5-minute span.
Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a standard length times width calculation for residential roofs. But, you will 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. Determining your roof-pitch factor is going to help you calculate how much rainfall will be collected, regardless of the average rainfall statistics found online.
DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?
Snowfall is included in precipitation calculations, but you definitely want to consider the potential for ice dams. If it snows a lot in your state, you should seek professional guidance about the type of gutters that best prevent ice dams from forming, which might really damage your 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 on your own, or if you want to pay a professional to install your gutters. Professional installation will ensure maximum efficiency, versus doing it yourself.
Most homeowners are better off paying a little extra for professional labor, knowing that the installation will be done right. Another bonus of hiring Montgomery Gutter Service to install your new gutters is that we can help you answer all your questions about gutters so that you find the best style and type for your home.