Which Gutters Are Right For Your Home?
The number one thing to consider when you are planning to install new gutters is, “Why?” This pivotal question will help to answer many of the following questions you’ll have before making your selection.
In our experience as a local gutter service, here are three reasons homeowners will be shopping for new rain gutters:
An Upgrade – Installing new rain gutters can drastically impact the exterior style of your house, enhancing its look in a subtler way than painting or landscaping.
A New Home – Building a new home comes with a constant stream of choices about both appearance and functionality. Gutters are one of them. Deciding on the first gutters that go on your home is important because they should last approximately 15-20 years.
A Renovation – If your home’s roof been damaged, the gutters might have to be replaced, too. Or, they could just be wearing down and need to be replaced with new ones.
You obviously know why you are replacing the gutters, but the reason often has underlying motivations…
You want to sell your home.
You want to renovate without spending a lot of money.
Your landscaping is getting ruined by ineffective gutters.
Determining your “Why” will often provide direction while you are shopping. You’ll know if certain features are must-haves or if you can go with a less expensive product.
Here are the major questions you’ll have when it’s time to install new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The best part of installing new gutters is choosing the style. Gutters will blend in or stand out against your house, 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 economical options that are durable in most scenarios, besides extremely cold climates, where they can wear down. Vinyl and plastic gutters are acceptable in nearly every region of the country, and they are available in a wide variety of colors.
METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS
These reasonably priced options are attractive and durable. Both of these materials come in a variety of colors too. 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 Colorado Springs who purchase these materials are looking for an elegant touch, and that’s what they’ll get!
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?
Most of the gutter options above offer these options below:
SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS
Sectional gutters – These types of rain gutters come in smaller sections, so they’re easier to install. In fact, most homeowners choose 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 areas where leaks are going to occur.
Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters should be installed by a professional contractor because they require special tools. They are more expensive to buy and to 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. In addition, 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 complement rounded roofs, popular before 1950, so they provide homes a luxurious, established curb appeal. However, modern styles made from vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, being lightweight and functional. Half-Round rain gutters are a lot harder to install, but much easier to clean, when the time comes for gutter cleaning.
DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?
The climate of your region may determine a lot about the gutters you can havecontractors 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 statistic is available on the National Weather Service or the U.S. Weather Bureau website. You can also find 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 simple length times width calculation for basic roofs. But, you need to figure all the surfaces of multi-faceted roofs.
Roof-Pitch Factor – A steep roof will collect more wind-blown rain than a less sloped roof. Knowing your roof-pitch factor will help you determine how much rainfall will actually be collected, regardless of the average 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 regularly in your state, you need to seek professional guidance concerning the type of gutters that best prevent ice dams, which can severely 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 on your own, or if you are going to pay a professional to install your gutters. Professional installation will ensure maximum efficiency, instead of doing it yourself.
Most homeowners should consider paying a little extra for professional labor, to ensure that the job will be done correctly. An added bonus of hiring The Colorado Springs Gutter Company to install the gutters is that we will help you answer all your questions about gutters so that you are able to find the best style and type.