Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?

The first thing to ask yourself when you are planning to install new gutters is, “Why?” This question will help you answer the following questions you’ll have before purchasing your selection.

In our experience as a local gutter service, here are only three reasons homeowners might be shopping for new rain gutters:

An Upgrade – Installing new rain gutters can significantly affect the curb appeal of your home, enhancing its look in a subtler way than painting or landscaping.

A New House – Building a new home comes with a lot of of choices about 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 been damaged, the gutters might have to be replaced. Or, they could just be deteriorating and need to be replaced with new ones.

You will know why you are installing new gutters, but the reason often has underlying motivations…

You want to sell your home.

You want to renovate but not spend too much money.

Your landscaping is being damaged by ineffective gutters.

Determining your “Why” will help to 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 less expensive product.

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

HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?

The best part about installing new rain gutters is choosing the style. Gutters can 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 affordable options that are durable in most scenarios, except in extremely cold climates, where they will wear down. Vinyl and plastic gutters are acceptable in nearly every region of the country, and they come in a wide range of colors.

METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS

These reasonably priced options are stylish and durable. Both materials come in a variety of colors as well. They are fairly light and easy to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) will withstand rust and corrosion even better.

COPPER & STAINLESS STEEL GUTTERS

Of all the gutter materials available, copper and stainless steel are the most expensive, but the most attractive as well. Homeowners in Duluth who choose these materials are looking for an elegant touch, and that’s exactly what they’ll get!

WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?

Most of the gutter materials above will offer these options:

SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS

Sectional gutters – These types of rain 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 less expensive choice, and they have more seams, which means more sections where leaks are going to occur.

Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters should be installed by a local contractor because they require specialized tools. They’re more expensive to order and to install, but they are less likely to leak 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 more common. This one of the reasons for their popularity. And, they are not hard to install. Many 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 before 1950, so they provide homes a regal, established curb appeal. However, modern styles made from vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, because they are both lightweight and highly functional. Half-Round gutters are harder to install, but easier to clean out, when the time comes for gutter cleaning.

DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?

The climate of your region will dictate a lot about which gutters you should install. Like we mentioned, some materials don’t hold up in extremely cold climates.

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

Professional gutter companies in Duluth can take a lot of 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 home exterior 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 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 your area. This is the max amount of rain that occurs within a 5-minute span.

Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a basic 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 roof that is steep will collect more wind-blown rain than a less sloped roof. Determining your roof-pitch factor is going to help you estimate how much rainfall will be collected, regardless of the average rainfall statistics.

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. If it snows often in your state, you need to seek professional guidance about the type of rain gutters that best prevent ice dams, which could severely damage your roof.

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

HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?

You also need to ask yourself if you’re willing to try to do the work yourself, or if you are going to enlist the services of a professional to install your new gutters. Professional installation will ensure efficiency, versus doing it yourself.

Most homeowners are better off paying a little extra for labor, knowing that the installation will be done right. An added bonus of hiring Duluth Gutter Service to install your 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.