Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?
The very first thing to consider when you are purchasing new gutters is, “Why?” This important question will help to answer the subsequent questions you’ll have before making your ultimate selection.
In our experience as a local gutter service, here are three reasons homeowners will be shopping for new rain gutters:
An Upgrade – Switching out the rain gutters can drastically impact the exterior style of your house, improving its look in a more subtle way than painting or landscaping.
A New Home – Building a new home comes with a lot of of decisions about appearance and functionality. Gutters included. Choosing the gutters that go on your home is important because they should last approximately 15 years or more.
A Renovation – If the roof on your home been damaged, the gutters might have to be replaced. Or, they might just be aging and need to be replaced.
You obviously know why you are replacing the rain gutters on your home, but the reason typically has underlying motivations…
You want to sell your home.
You want to renovate without spending too much money.
Your landscaping is being ruined by ineffective gutters.
Figuring out your “Why” will often give you direction while you are shopping for new gutters. You’ll know which features are important or if you can go with a more affordable product.
Here are the questions you’ll have when purchasing new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The fun part about choosing new rain gutters is choosing the style. Gutters will blend in or stand out against your home, depending on your personal preference.
These are the options you will have, in order of cost:
VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS
Vinyl and plastic are economical materials that are durable in most cases, besides cold climates, where they can become brittle. Vinyl and plastic gutters are sufficient in nearly every region of the country, and they are available in a wide range of colors.
METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS
These mid-priced options are stylish and durable. Both materials are available in a wide range of colors as well. They are fairly light and not difficult to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) will 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 stylish as well. Homeowners in Wilkes-Barre who purchase these options are looking for an elegant touch, and that’s exactly what they’ll get!
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?
Almost all of the gutter options above offer these options:
SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS
Sectional gutters – These types of gutters are made in smaller sections, so they’re easier to install. In fact, homeowners decide to install their own sectional gutters. This type is the more affordable choice, and they have more seams, which means there are more areas where leaks are going to occur.
Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters should be installed by a local contractor because they require special tools. They are more expensive to buy 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 far more popular because they look great with every style of home. They’re better for angled roofs, which are more common. This one of the reasons for their popularity. Plus, they are easy to install. Many homeowners are capable enough to install their own K-Style gutters.
Half-Round – Half-Round gutters are usually made of copper and steel, and they are best for rounded roofs, popular before 1950, so they give homes a regal, established curb appeal. However, more modern styles made from vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, because they are lightweight and functional. Half-Round gutters are harder to install, but easier to clean out, when it’s time for gutter cleaning.
DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?
The climate of your region will dictate a lot about what gutters you can have. Like we mentioned, certain materials don’t hold up well in cold climates.
The single most important climate factor to consider is how much work the gutters will have to do. Basically, how much rain or water are your gutters going to have to withstand?
Professional gutter installers in Wilkes-Barre can take a lot of factors into account to determine the size and type of rain gutters that will work 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 can also look into the maximum rainfall intensity for your area. This is the maximum amount of rain that can happen within a 5-minute span.
Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a simple length times width calculation for residential roofs. However, you will have to figure 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 will help to estimate how much rainfall will actually be collected, regardless of the rainfall statistics found online.
DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?
Snowfall will be included in average precipitation calculations, but you also want to be aware of the potential for ice dams. If it snows a lot in your region, you should seek professional guidance concerning the type of rain gutters that help to prevent ice dams, which can 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 going to try to do the work yourself, or if you are going to pay 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 Wilkes-Barre Gutter Solutions to install your gutters is that we are able to help you answer all of your questions about gutters so that you find the perfect style and type.