Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?

The number one thing to consider when you are purchasing new gutters is, “Why?” This question will help to answer most of the following questions you’ll have before making your ultimate 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 significantly affect the exterior style of your house, increasing its look in a subtler way than painting or landscaping.

A New House – Designing a home comes with a constant stream of choices about both appearance and functionality. Rain gutters included. Deciding on the gutters that go on your house is important because they should last approximately 15-20 years.

A Renovation – If your roof been damaged, the gutters might have to be replaced. Or, they could 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 house.

You want to renovate without spending too much money.

Your landscaping is being ruined by ineffective gutters.

Figuring out your “Why” will help to give you direction while you are shopping. You’ll know if certain features are important or if you can go with a less expensive product.

Here are the questions you’ll need to ask when purchasing new gutters.

HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?

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

These are the choices you will have, in order of lowest to highest cost:

VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS

Vinyl and plastic are affordable materials that are durable in most cases, besides extremely cold climates, where they will become brittle. Vinyl and plastic gutters are acceptable in nearly every region of the country, and they are available in a wide range 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 easy to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) fend off rust and corrosion even better.

COPPER & STAINLESS STEEL GUTTERS

Of all the gutter materials, copper and stainless steel cost the most, but the most eye-catching as well. Homeowners in Sayreville who purchase these options are looking for an elegant touch, and that’s what they’ll get!

WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?

Most of the gutter types above offer both of these options below:

SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS

Sectional gutters – These types of rain gutters are made in smaller sections, so they’re easier to install. In fact, many homeowners decide to install their own sectional gutters on their own. This type is the more affordable choice, and they are made with more seams, which means more sections where leaks are going to occur.

Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters will need to be installed by a professional contractor because they need special equipment. They’re more expensive to order 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 far more popular because they look excellent with almost any style of home. They are better for angled roofs, which are more common. This attributes to their popularity. Plus, they are not hard to install. Many homeowners are capable enough to install their own K-Style gutters.

Half-Round – Half-Round gutters are usually made of copper and steel, and they are best for rounded roofs, popular before 1950, so they provide homes a regal, established curb appeal. However, more modern styles made out of vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, being both lightweight and highly 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 may dictate a lot about which gutters you can have. Like we mentioned, some types of materials don’t hold up in extremely cold climates.

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

Professional gutter companies in Sayreville are going to take a lot of factors into consideration to get a good idea of the size and the type of rain gutters that will work the best for your roof.

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 weather statistic can be found 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 occurs within a 5-minute span.

Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a simple length times width calculation for residential roofs. However, you have 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 less sloped roof. Knowing your roof-pitch factor is going to help you estimate how much rainfall will be collected, regardless of the average rainfall statistics found online.

DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?

Snowfall is going to be factored into precipitation calculations, but you also want to consider the potential for ice dams. If it snows a lot in your region, you should seek professional guidance concerning the type of gutters that help to prevent ice dams, which can really damage your home’s roof.

Of course, the final 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 want to hire a professional to install your new gutters. Professional installation will ensure efficiency, versus doing it yourself.

Most homeowners should consider paying a little extra for labor, to ensure that the job will be done right. Another bonus of hiring Sayreville Gutter Service to install the new gutters is that we can help you answer all of your questions about gutters so that you find the best style and type.