Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?
The very first thing to consider when you are shopping for new gutters is, “Why?” This question will help to answer the subsequent questions you’ll have before making your selection.
In our experience as a local gutter service, here are just three reasons homeowners might be in the market for new rain gutters:
An Upgrade – Switching out the gutters can drastically impact the appearance of your home, improving its look in a more subtle way than painting or new landscaping.
A New House – Designing a new home comes with a lot of of choices about appearance and functionality. Gutters are no exception. Choosing the first gutters that go on your home is important because they should last approximately 15 years.
A Renovation – If your home’s roof has had damage, the gutters may have to be replaced. Or, they might just be getting too old and need to be replaced with new ones.
You will know why you are installing new gutters on your home, but the reason often has underlying motivations…
You want to sell your house.
You want to renovate without spending too much money.
Your landscaping is getting 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 must-haves or if you can go with a more affordable product.
Here are the questions you’ll need to ask when it’s time to install new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The fun part of choosing new gutters is choosing the materials. Gutters can blend in or stand out against your home, depending on your personal preference.
These are the choices 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 extremely cold climates, where they will deteriorate. Vinyl and plastic gutters are acceptable in most regions of the country, and they are available in a wide range of colors.
METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS
These mid-priced options are both attractive and durable. Both materials are available in a variety of colors as well. They are fairly light and are easy 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, copper and stainless steel are the most expensive, but the most stylish as well. Homeowners in Lakewood who purchase these options are looking for an elegant touch, and that’s 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 are made in smaller sections, so they are easy to install. In fact, most homeowners decide to install their own sectional gutters. This type is the less expensive choice, and they are made with more seams, which means more sections where leaks can occur.
Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters should be installed by a contractor because they require specialized tools. They’re more expensive to order and install, but 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 every style of home. They’re better for angled roofs, which are more common. This speaks to their popularity. Plus, they are easy to install. Many homeowners are proficient enough to install their own K-Style gutters by themselves.
Half-Round – Half-Round gutters are traditionally made of copper and steel, and they recommended for rounded roofs, popular before 1950, so they provide homes a luxurious, classic appearance. However, modern styles made out of vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, being both lightweight and functional. Half-Round rain gutters are harder to install, but they are easier to clean out, when the time comes for gutter cleaning.
DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?
The climate of your region will dictate a lot about the gutters you can have. As we mentioned, certain materials don’t hold up in extremely cold climates.
The single most important climate factor to consider is how much work the gutters will need to do. Essentially, how much water are your gutters going to have to handle?
Professional gutter contractors in Lakewood can take several factors into consideration to determine the size and the type of rain gutters that are going to work best for your house.
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 weather statistic can be found online on the National Weather Service or the U.S. Weather Bureau website. You can also check the maximum rainfall intensity for the city you live in. This is the max amount of rain that can happen within a 5-minute span.
Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a standard length times width calculation for basic roofs. However, 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 you calculate 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 be aware of 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 best prevent ice dams from forming, which can severely damage your roof.
Of course, the last question is probably the most important …
HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?
You also need to ask yourself if you’re willing to do the work on your own, or if you are going to hire a professional to install your new gutters. Professional installation will ensure maximum efficiency, compared to doing it yourself.
Most homeowners are better off paying a little extra for professional labor, knowing that the installation will be done correctly. An added bonus of hiring TLC Gutters Inc. to install the gutters is that we will help you answer all of your questions about gutters so that you are able to find the perfect style and type.