Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?

The number one thing to consider when you are planning to install new gutters is, “Why?” This question will help to answer the questions you’ll have before purchasing your final selection.

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

An Upgrade – Switching out the gutters can significantly affect the exterior style of your house, improving its look in a subtler way than painting or landscaping.

A New Home – Designing a home comes with a constant stream of decisions about appearance and functionality. Gutters are no exception. Deciding on the first gutters that go on your house is important because they should last approximately 20 years or more.

A Renovation – If your roof been damaged, the gutters may have to be replaced, too. Or, they might just be aging and need to be replaced.

You will know why you are installing new rain 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 damaged by ineffective gutters.

Determining your “Why” will help to provide direction while you are shopping for new gutters. You’ll know if certain features are worth spending 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 materials. Gutters can blend in or stand out against your home, depending on your preference.

These are the options 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 scenarios, other than extremely cold climates, where they can become brittle. Vinyl and plastic gutters are acceptable in most regions of the country, and they are available in a wide variety of colors.

METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS

These reasonably priced options are both stylish and durable. Both of these materials come in a wide range of colors as well. They are fairly lightweight and are not difficult 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 cost the most, but are the most stylish as well. Homeowners in Rochester who decide on these materials are searching for an elegant touch, and that’s exactly what they’ll get!

WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?

Most of the gutter materials above offer both of these options below:

SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS

Sectional gutters – These types of rain gutters are made in smaller sections, so they’re easy to install. In fact, most homeowners choose to install their own sectional gutters. This type is the more affordable choice, and they have more seams, which means more areas where leaks can occur.

Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters need to be installed by a local contractor because they require special tools. They’re more expensive to order and 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 are better for angled roofs, which are far more common. This speaks to their popularity. In addition, they are not hard to install. Most homeowners are proficient enough to install their own K-Style gutters.

Half-Round – Half-Round gutters are traditionally made of copper and steel, and they complement rounded roofs, popular before 1950, so they give homes a regal, classic curb appeal. However, modern styles made from vinyl and plastic provide the best of both worlds, because they are both lightweight and highly functional. Half-Round rain gutters are a lot harder to install, but easier to clean out, when it’s time for gutter cleaning.

DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?

The climate of the city you live in may dictate a lot about which gutters you can have. As we already mentioned, some types of materials don’t hold up well in cold climates.

The single most important climate factor to think about is how much work the gutters will need to do. Basically, how much water are your gutters going to need to handle?

Professional gutter installers in Rochester can take a lot of factors into account to determine the size and type of rain gutters that are going to work best for your home.

WHAT IS THE FORMULA?

Luckily, the formula professional gutter 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 is available on the National Weather Service or the U.S. Weather Bureau website. You can also find the maximum rainfall intensity for the city you live in. This is the max amount of rain that will occur within a 5-minute span.

Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a basic length times width calculation for basic roofs. However, you have to factor in 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. Figuring out your roof-pitch factor will help you estimate how much rainfall will be collected, regardless of the average rainfall statistics found online.

DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?

Snowfall will be factored into precipitation calculations, but you also want to consider the potential for ice dams. If it snows regularly in your city, you need to seek professional guidance about the type of rain gutters that best prevent ice dams from forming, which might severely 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 willing to try 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, compared to doing it yourself.

Most homeowners should consider paying a little extra for professional labor, to ensure that the job will be done correctly. An added bonus of hiring Rochester Gutter Service to install your gutters is that we are able to help you answer all your questions about new gutters so that you find the best style and type.