Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?
The first thing to consider when you are shopping for new gutters is, “Why?” This question will help to answer most of the subsequent questions you’ll have before purchasing your ultimate selection.
In our experience as a local gutter service, here are three reasons homeowners might be in the market for new gutters:
An Upgrade – Switching out the gutters can significantly impact the appearance of your house, improving its look in a more subtle way than painting or new landscaping.
A New House – Building a new home comes with a lot of of choices about both appearance and functionality. Rain gutters are no exception. Choosing the first gutters that go on your home is important because they should last at least 20 years.
A Renovation – If your roof has suffered damage, the gutters may have to be replaced. Or, they might simply be getting too old and need to be replaced with new ones.
You obviously know why you are replacing the rain gutters, 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 provide direction while you are shopping. You’ll know what features are must-haves or if you can go with a less expensive product.
Here are the major questions you’ll need to ask when purchasing new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The best part about purchasing new rain gutters is picking out the materials. Gutters will blend in or stand out against your house, depending on your preference.
These are the choices for materials, in order of lowest to highest cost:
VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS
Vinyl and plastic are affordable choices that hold up well in most scenarios, other than cold climates, where they will wear down. Vinyl and plastic gutters are acceptable in nearly every region of the country, and they come in a wide variety of colors.
METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS
These mid-priced materials are attractive and durable. Both of these materials are available in a variety of colors as well. 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 gutter materials, copper and stainless steel are the most expensive, but the most eye-catching as well. Homeowners in Gresham 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 types above offer both of these options:
SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS
Sectional gutters – These rain gutters are made in smaller sections, so they are easy to install. In fact, most homeowners choose to install their own sectional gutters. This type is the more affordable choice, and they are made with more seams, which means more areas where leaks are going to occur.
Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters will need to be installed by a contractor because they need special tools. They are more expensive to order and to install, but they are 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 excellent with every style of home. They are better for angled roofs, which are more common. This one of the reasons for their popularity. And, 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 traditionally made of copper and steel, and they complement rounded roofs, popular prior to 1950, so they give homes a regal, classic appearance. However, modern styles made from vinyl and plastic provide the best of both worlds, being both 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 may determine a lot about the gutters you should purchase. Like we mentioned, certain materials will not hold up well in extremely cold climates.
The single 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 Gresham will take many 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 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 statistic is available on the National Weather Service or the U.S. Weather Bureau website. You should also find the maximum rainfall intensity for your area. This is the maximum amount of rain that occurs within a 5-minute span.
Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a simple length times width calculation for residential roofs. However, you will want 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 roof that is less sloped. Knowing your roof-pitch factor will help you estimate how much rainfall will be collected, regardless of the rainfall statistics.
DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?
Snowfall is factored into average precipitation calculations, but you definitely want to consider the potential for ice dams forming on your roof. 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 might really damage your roof.
Of course, the final question is arguably 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 want to enlist the services of a professional to install your new gutters. Professional installation ensures efficiency, versus doing it yourself.
Most homeowners are better off paying a little extra for labor, to ensure that the installation will be done right. Another bonus of hiring Gresham Gutter Service to install your gutters is that we can help you answer all your questions about gutters so that you are able to find the perfect style and type.