Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?
The number one thing to ask yourself when you are shopping for new gutters is, “Why?” This pivotal question will help you answer most of the following questions you’ll have before purchasing your ultimate selection.
In our experience as a local gutter service, here are just three reasons homeowners might be in the market for new gutters:
An Upgrade – Switching out the gutters can really affect the curb appeal of your house, enhancing its look in a subtler way than painting or landscaping.
A New House – Designing a home comes with a constant stream of decisions about both appearance and functionality. Rain gutters are no exception. Choosing the gutters that go on your house is important because they will need to last approximately 15-20 years.
A Renovation – If the roof on your home has had damage, the gutters may have to be replaced, too. Or, they could simply be deteriorating and need to be replaced with new ones.
You know why you are replacing the gutters on your home, but the reason typically has underlying motivations…
You want to sell your home.
You want to renovate but not spend a lot of money.
Your landscaping is being damaged by ineffective gutters.
Figuring out your “Why” will often give you direction while you are shopping for new gutters. You’ll know if certain features are worth spending money on or if you can choose a more affordable product.
Here are the major questions you’ll need to ask when purchasing new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The best part about choosing new rain gutters is picking out the style. Gutters will blend in or stand out against your home exterior, 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 options that are durable in most cases, besides cold climates, where they can deteriorate. Vinyl and plastic gutters are acceptable in most regions of the country, and they come in a wide variety of colors.
METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS
These mid-priced materials are attractive and durable. Both materials are available in a wide range of colors too. They are fairly lightweight and are not difficult to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) will fend off rust and corrosion even better.
COPPER & STAINLESS STEEL GUTTERS
Of all the gutter materials available, copper and stainless steel are the most expensive, but the most eye-catching as well. Homeowners in Warwick who choose 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 options above will offer both of these options:
SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS
Sectional gutters – These rain gutters come in smaller sections, so they are easy to install. In fact, many homeowners choose to install their own sectional gutters on their own. This type is the less expensive choice, and they are made with more seams, which means more areas where leaks are going to occur.
Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters need to be installed by a local contractor because they need special equipment. They are more expensive to buy 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 virtually any style of home. They are better for angled roofs, which are more common. This speaks to their popularity. Plus, they are not hard to install. Many homeowners are proficient enough to install their own K-Style gutters.
Half-Round – Half-Round gutters are traditionally made of copper and steel, and they complement rounded roofs, popular prior to 1950, so they provide homes a regal, classic appearance. However, more modern styles made from vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, because they are lightweight and functional. Half-Round rain gutters are much harder to install, but they are easier to clean, when the time comes for gutter cleaning.
DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?
The climate of your region may determine a lot about what gutters you can have. As we mentioned, some materials will not hold up in extremely cold climates.
The most important climate factor to think about is how much work the gutters will need to do. Essentially, how much water are your gutters going to have to withstand?
Professional gutter installers in Warwick are going to take a lot of factors into consideration to determine the size and type of gutters that will work best for your roof.
WHAT IS THE FORMULA?
Luckily, the formula professional gutter 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 weather statistic is available online 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 max amount of rain that will occur within a 5-minute span.
Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a simple length times width calculation for residential roofs. But, you need to factor in all the surfaces of multi-faceted roofs.
Roof-Pitch Factor – A steep roof will collect more wind-blown rain than a less sloped roof. Figuring out your roof-pitch factor is going to help you estimate how much rainfall will be collected, regardless of the rainfall statistics found online.
DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?
Snowfall will be factored into average precipitation calculations, but you definitely want to consider the potential for ice dams. If it snows often in your region, you should seek professional guidance about the type of rain gutters that best prevent ice dams, which can really damage your home’s 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 pay a professional to install your gutters. Professional installation will ensure efficiency, instead of doing it yourself.
Most homeowners should consider paying a little extra for professional labor, to ensure that the installation will be done right. Another bonus of hiring Warwick Gutter Cleaning to install the gutters is that we will help you answer all of your questions about gutters so that you find the perfect style and type.