Which Gutters Are Right For Your Home?

The number one thing to ask yourself when you are shopping for new gutters is, “Why?” This important question will help to answer most of 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 will be shopping for new gutters:

An Upgrade – Switching out the gutters can really affect the exterior style of your home, increasing its look in a more subtle way than painting or landscaping.

A New House – Building a new home comes with a constant stream of decisions about appearance and functionality. Rain gutters are no exception. Choosing the first gutters that go on your house is important because they should last approximately 15-20 years or more.

A Renovation – If your roof is damaged, the gutters might need to be replaced. Or, they may just be wearing down and need to be replaced.

You obviously know why you are installing new rain gutters, but the reason usually 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 often provide direction while you are shopping for new gutters. You’ll know if certain features are must-haves or if you can choose a more affordable product.

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

HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?

The best part about choosing new gutters is picking out the materials. Gutters will blend in or stand out against your home, depending on your personal preference.

These are the options for materials, in order of lowest to highest cost:

VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS

Vinyl and plastic are affordable options that are durable in most scenarios, except in cold climates, where they can deteriorate. Vinyl and plastic gutters are acceptable in almost every region of the country, and they come in a wide variety of colors.

METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS

These reasonably priced options are attractive and durable. Both materials come in a variety of colors too. 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 eye-catching as well. Homeowners in Elkhart who purchase these materials are searching for an elegant touch, and that’s just what they’ll get!

WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?

Most of the gutter types above will offer both of these options:

SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS

Sectional gutters – These rain gutters are made in smaller sections, so they are easier to install. In fact, most 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 contractor because they require special equipment. They’re more expensive to buy and to install, but 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 every style of home. They’re better for angled roofs, which are far 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 recommended for rounded roofs, popular before 1950, so they give homes a luxurious, classic curb appeal. However, modern styles made out of vinyl and plastic provide the best of both worlds, because they are both lightweight and highly functional. Half-Round rain gutters are harder to install, but they are easier to clean, 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 should install. As we already mentioned, some types of materials don’t hold up in cold climates.

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

Professional gutter installers in Elkhart can take many factors into consideration to get a good idea of the size and type of gutters that are going to work best for your roof.

WHAT IS THE FORMULA?

Luckily, the formula professional roofing 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 is available online 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 occurs within a 5-minute span.

Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a standard length times width calculation for basic roofs. However, you will have 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 to estimate how much rainfall will be collected, regardless of the average rainfall statistics.

DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?

Snowfall is included in precipitation calculations, but you also want to consider 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 best prevent ice dams, which can really damage your roof.

Of course, the last 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 will ensure efficiency, versus doing it yourself.

Most homeowners should consider paying a little extra for labor, knowing that the installation will be done right. An added bonus of hiring Elkhart Gutter Experts to install your gutters is that we will help you answer all your questions about new gutters so that you find the best style and type for your home.