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 to answer the questions you’ll have before making your selection.
In our experience as a local gutter service, here are only three reasons homeowners might be in the market for new rain gutters:
An Upgrade – Installing new gutters can significantly impact the appearance of your home, enhancing its look in a more subtle way than painting or landscaping.
A New House – Building a home comes with a lot of of decisions about appearance and functionality. Gutters are no exception. Choosing the first gutters that go on your home is important because they should last approximately 20 years or more.
A Renovation – If the roof on your home has experienced damage, the gutters may have to be replaced. Or, they might simply be deteriorating and need to be replaced with new ones.
You obviously know why you are installing new gutters, 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 being damaged by ineffective gutters.
Figuring out your “Why” will provide direction while you are shopping. You’ll know which features are worth spending money on or if you can choose a less expensive product.
Here are the major questions you’ll have when purchasing new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The fun part about purchasing new rain gutters is choosing the materials. Gutters can blend in or stand out against your house, 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 hold up well in most cases, besides cold climates, where they will wear down. 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 materials are both stylish and durable. Both materials come in a variety of colors too. They are fairly light and easy to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) are able to resist 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 stylish as well. Homeowners in Boise who decide on these options are searching for an elegant touch, and that’s just what they’ll get!
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?
Almost all of the gutter materials above will offer both of these options:
SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS
Sectional gutters – These 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 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 should be installed by a contractor because they need specialized tools. They’re 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 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. Plus, they are not hard 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 recommended for rounded roofs, popular before 1950, so they give homes a regal, established appearance. However, modern styles made from vinyl and plastic provide the best of both worlds, because they are lightweight and functional. Half-Round gutters are a lot harder to install, but easier to clean, when the time comes for gutter cleaning.
DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?
The climate of the region you live in may dictate a lot about which gutters you can havecontractors 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 look into the maximum rainfall intensity for the city you live in. This is the maximum amount of rain that can happen within a 5-minute span.
Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a basic length times width calculation for standard roofs. But, you will need to figure 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. Determining 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 is factored into 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 need to seek professional guidance concerning the type of rain gutters that help to prevent ice dams, which might 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 willing to try to do the work yourself, or if you are going to enlist the services of a professional to install your new gutters. Professional installation ensures efficiency, compared to doing it yourself.
Most homeowners should consider paying a little extra for professional labor, knowing that the installation will be done correctly. An added bonus of hiring Boise Gutters & More! to install the new gutters is that we are able to help you answer all of your questions about gutters so that you find the perfect style and type for your home.