Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?

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

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

An Upgrade – Installing new gutters can really affect the appearance of your house, increasing its look in a subtler way than painting or new landscaping.

A New House – Designing a home comes with a constant stream of choices about both appearance and functionality. Gutters are one of them. Choosing the first gutters that go on your home is important because they will need to last at least 20 years.

A Renovation – If the roof on your home is damaged, the gutters might have to be replaced, too. Or, they might simply be deteriorating and need to be replaced.

You will know why you are installing new gutters on your home, but the reason usually has underlying motivations…

You want to sell your house.

You want to renovate without spending too much money.

Your landscaping is getting ruined by ineffective gutters.

Determining your “Why” will help to provide direction while you are shopping. You’ll know if certain features are important or if you can choose a more affordable product.

Here are the questions you’ll want to consider when it’s time to purchase new gutters.

HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?

The best part of installing new rain gutters is picking out 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 hold up well in most cases, other than extremely cold climates, where they will become brittle. Vinyl and plastic gutters are efficient in nearly every region of the country, and they are available in a wide variety of colors.

METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS

These reasonably priced options are stylish and durable. Both materials are available in a wide range of colors too. They are fairly lightweight and are easy to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) resist 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 eye-catching as well. Homeowners in Greensboro who choose these options are searching for an elegant touch, and that’s what they’ll get!

WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?

Almost all of the gutter types above offer these options below:

SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS

Sectional gutters – These rain gutters come in smaller sections, so they’re easier to install. In fact, homeowners choose to install their own sectional gutters on their own. This type is the more affordable choice, and they have more seams, which means more sections where leaks can occur.

Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters should be installed by a professional 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 great with every style of home. They’re better for angled roofs, which are far more common. This attributes to their popularity. Plus, they are easy 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 are best for rounded roofs, popular before 1950, so they give homes a luxurious, classic curb appeal. However, modern styles made from vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, being both lightweight and highly functional. Half-Round gutters are much 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 the gutters you should install. As we mentioned, certain types of materials don’t hold up in extremely cold climates.

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

Professional gutter installers in Greensboro can take many factors into account to get a good idea of the size and type of gutters that will work best for your home.

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 look into the maximum rainfall intensity for your area. This is the maximum amount of rain that will occur within a 5-minute span.

Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a standard length times width calculation for basic roofs. But, 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. Knowing your roof-pitch factor is going to help you determine how much rainfall will actually be collected, regardless of the average rainfall statistics.

DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?

Snowfall is going to be included in average precipitation calculations, but you definitely want to be aware of the potential for ice dams forming on your roof. If it snows regularly in your city, you should seek professional guidance concerning the type of gutters that help to prevent ice dams from forming, which can severely damage your home’s roof.

Of course, the last question is probably the most important …

HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?

You also have to ask yourself if you’re going to do the work on your own, or if you are going to enlist the services of a professional to install your gutters. Professional installation will ensure maximum efficiency, versus doing it yourself.

Most homeowners should consider paying a little extra for labor, to ensure that the job will be done right. Another bonus of hiring Greensboro Gutter Specialists to install your gutters is that we can help you answer all of your questions about gutters so that you find the perfect style and type for your home.