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 you answer many of the subsequent questions you’ll have before making your selection.

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

An Upgrade – Switching out the gutters can significantly impact the exterior style of your home, improving its look in a more subtle way than painting or new landscaping.

A New Home – Building a home comes with a lot of of choices about appearance and functionality. Gutters included. Deciding on the first gutters that go on your house is important because they will need to last at least 15-20 years.

A Renovation – If your roof has suffered damage, the gutters might have to be replaced. Or, they might just be wearing down and need to be replaced.

You know why you are installing new rain gutters on your home, but the reason usually 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 help to give you direction while you are shopping for new gutters. You’ll know which features are must-haves or if you can choose a less expensive product.

Here are the major questions you’ll have when it’s time to install new gutters.

HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?

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

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

VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS

Vinyl and plastic are affordable choices that hold up well in most cases, except in cold climates, where they can become brittle. Vinyl and plastic gutters are sufficient 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 are available in a variety of colors too. They are fairly lightweight and are 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 rain gutter materials available, copper and stainless steel cost the most, but are the most eye-catching as well. Homeowners in Kannapolis who choose 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 options above offer both of 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 decide to install their own sectional gutters on their own. 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 will need to be installed by a professional contractor because they need 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 popular because they look excellent with virtually any style of home. They’re better for angled roofs, which are far more common. This one of the reasons for 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 traditionally made of copper and steel, and they recommended for rounded roofs, popular prior to 1950, so they provide homes a regal, established appearance. However, modern styles made from vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, being both lightweight and functional. Half-Round rain 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 city you live in will determine a lot about the gutters you can have. Like we already mentioned, certain materials don’t hold up well in cold climates.

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

Professional gutter installers in Kannapolis will take many factors into account to determine the size and type of gutters that will work the best for your roof.

WHAT IS THE FORMULA?

Luckily, the formula professional roofing contractors use is not a 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 online on the National Weather Service or the U.S. Weather Bureau website. You should also look into 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 simple length times width calculation for standard roofs. However, 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 is going to help you calculate how much rainfall will be collected, regardless of the average rainfall statistics found online.

DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?

Snowfall is factored into precipitation calculations, but you also want to consider the potential for ice dams. If it snows often in your state, you need to seek professional guidance concerning the type of rain gutters that best prevent ice dams, which could really damage your home’s 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 do the work on your own, or if you want to enlist the services of a professional to install your gutters. Professional installation ensures maximum efficiency, instead of doing it yourself.

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