Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?

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

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

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

A New Home – Designing a new home comes with a constant stream of decisions about both appearance and functionality. Rain gutters included. Deciding on the gutters that go on your home is important because they will need to last approximately 20 years or more.

A Renovation – If the roof on your home has experienced damage, the gutters might have to be replaced, too. Or, they could simply be getting too old and need to be replaced.

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

You want to sell your home.

You want to renovate but not spend a lot of money.

Your landscaping is getting damaged by ineffective gutters.

Figuring out your “Why” will often provide direction while you are shopping for new gutters. You’ll know if certain features are worth spending your money on or if you can choose a less expensive product.

Here are the questions you’ll need to ask when purchasing new gutters.

HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?

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

These are the options you will have, in order of cost:

VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS

Vinyl and plastic are economical choices that hold up well in most scenarios, other than cold climates, where they will deteriorate. Vinyl and plastic gutters are acceptable in most regions of the country, and they come in a wide variety of colors.

METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS

These mid-priced materials are attractive and durable. Both materials are available in a wide range of colors as well. They are fairly light and are easy to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) fend off 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 Mount Vernon who choose these options are searching for an elegant touch, and that’s exactly what they’ll get!

WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?

Almost all of the gutter types above offer these options:

SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS

Sectional gutters – These gutters come in smaller sections, so they’re easy to install. In fact, most 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 contractor because they require specialized equipment. They’re more expensive to buy and install, but they are less likely to leak than sectional gutters.

K-STYLE OR HALF-ROUND GUTTERS

K-Style – K-Style gutters are far more popular because they look excellent with virtually any style of home. They’re better for angled roofs, which are more common. This speaks to their popularity. And, they are not hard to install. Most 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 prior to 1950, so they give homes a regal, classic appearance. However, more modern styles made from vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, being lightweight and highly functional. Half-Round gutters are harder to install, but they are easier to clean, when the time comes for gutter cleaning.

DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?

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

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

Professional gutter installers in Mount Vernon are going to take many factors into account to determine the size and type of gutters that will work the best for your home.

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 statistic can be found on the National Weather Service or the U.S. Weather Bureau website. You should also check the maximum rainfall intensity for the city you live in. This is the maximum amount of rain that will occur within a 5-minute span.

Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a basic length times width calculation for residential roofs. But, you will need 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 you calculate how much rainfall will actually be collected, regardless of the average rainfall statistics.

DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?

Snowfall is factored into average precipitation calculations, but you definitely want to be aware of the potential for ice dams forming on your roof. If it snows often in your region, you should seek professional guidance concerning the type of rain gutters that help to prevent ice dams from forming, which can 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 want to hire a professional to install your gutters. Professional installation ensures maximum efficiency, compared to doing it yourself.

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