Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?

The very first thing to consider when you are shopping for new gutters is, “Why?” This pivotal question will help you answer the questions you’ll have before purchasing your ultimate selection.

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

An Upgrade – Switching out the rain gutters can significantly affect the curb appeal 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 lot of of choices about appearance and functionality. Gutters included. Deciding on the first gutters that go on your home is important because they will need to last approximately 15-20 years.

A Renovation – If the roof on your home is damaged, the gutters may need to be replaced, too. Or, they could just be getting too old and need to be replaced.

You know why you are replacing the rain gutters on your home, but the reason often has underlying motivations…

You want to sell your home.

You want to renovate without spending too much money.

Your landscaping is getting ruined by ineffective gutters.

Determining your “Why” will often give you direction while you are shopping for new gutters. You’ll know which features are must-haves or if you can go with a more affordable product.

Here are the major questions you’ll need to ask when it’s time to purchase new gutters.

HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?

The fun part of installing new gutters is choosing the materials. Gutters will blend in or stand out against your home, depending on your preference.

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

VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS

Vinyl and plastic are affordable choices that are durable in most scenarios, besides cold climates, where they will wear down. Vinyl and plastic gutters are efficient in almost every region of the country, and they come in a wide range of colors.

METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS

These reasonably priced options are both stylish and durable. Both of these materials come in a variety of colors as well. They are fairly lightweight and easy to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) are able to withstand rust and corrosion even better.

COPPER & STAINLESS STEEL GUTTERS

Of all the gutter materials available, copper and stainless steel cost the most, but are the most attractive as well. Homeowners in Cranston who choose these materials are searching for an elegant touch, and that’s what they’ll get!

WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?

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

SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS

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

Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters will need to be installed by a professional contractor because they require specialized tools. They are more expensive to buy and to install, but they are less likely to leak than sectional gutters.

K-STYLE OR HALF-ROUND GUTTERS

K-Style – K-Style gutters are popular because they look great with almost any style of home. They are better for angled roofs, which are more common. This one of the reasons for their popularity. In addition, they are easy 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 are best for rounded roofs, popular prior to 1950, so they give homes a luxurious, established curb appeal. However, more modern styles made from vinyl and plastic provide the best of both worlds, because they are lightweight and functional. Half-Round gutters are harder to install, but they are 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 the gutters you can have. As we mentioned, some types of materials will not hold up well in extremely cold climates.

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

Professional gutter companies in Cranston can take a lot of factors into consideration 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 gutter 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 can be found online on the National Weather Service or the U.S. Weather Bureau website. You should also check 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. But, you will need to figure 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. Determining your roof-pitch factor is going to help to 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 factored into average precipitation calculations, but you also want to consider the potential for ice dams. If it snows a lot in your city, you should seek professional guidance about the type of rain gutters that best prevent ice dams from forming, which could really damage your home’s roof.

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

HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?

You also need to ask yourself if you’re going to try to do the work on your own, or if you are going to hire a professional to install your gutters. Professional installation ensures maximum efficiency, instead of doing it yourself.

Most homeowners are better off paying a little extra for labor, knowing that the installation will be done correctly. An added bonus of hiring Cranston Gutters to install your new gutters is that we can help you answer all your questions about new gutters so that you are able to find the best style and type.