Which Gutters Are Right For Your Home?
The number one thing to consider when you are planning to install new gutters is, “Why?” This question will help you answer many of the 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 – Installing new gutters can really affect the exterior style of your house, enhancing its look in a subtler way than painting or new landscaping.
A New House – Designing a new home comes with a constant stream of choices about appearance and functionality. Rain gutters included. Choosing the first gutters that go on your home is important because they will need to last approximately 15 years.
A Renovation – If your home’s roof is damaged, the gutters may need to be replaced. Or, they may just be aging and need to be replaced with new ones.
You obviously know why you are installing new rain gutters on your home, but the reason often has underlying motivations…
You want to sell your house.
You want to renovate but not spend a lot of money.
Your landscaping is being ruined by ineffective gutters.
Determining your “Why” will give you direction while you are shopping. You’ll know which features are must-haves or if you can choose a less expensive product.
Here are the questions you’ll want to consider when it’s time to purchase new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The best part of purchasing new gutters is choosing the style. Gutters can blend in or stand out against your house, depending on your preference.
These are the options you will have, in order of cost:
VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS
Vinyl and plastic are economical choices that are durable in most scenarios, other than extremely cold climates, where they can deteriorate. Vinyl and plastic gutters are efficient in most regions of the country, and they come in a wide range of colors.
METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS
These mid-priced materials are stylish and durable. Both materials are available in a wide range of colors too. They are fairly lightweight and 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 are the most eye-catching as well. Homeowners in Hammond who purchase these materials are searching for an elegant touch, and that’s exactly what they’ll get!
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?
Almost all of the gutter types above offer these options below:
SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS
Sectional gutters – These types of gutters come in smaller sections, so they are easier to install. In fact, many homeowners decide to install their own sectional gutters. This type is the less expensive choice, and they are made with more seams, which means there are more sections where leaks can occur.
Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters need to be installed by a contractor because they require special equipment. They’re more expensive to purchase and install, but they are less likely to leak than sectional gutters.
K-STYLE OR HALF-ROUND GUTTERS
K-Style – K-Style gutters are popular because they look excellent with virtually any style of home. They’re better for angled roofs, which are far more common. This one of the reasons for their popularity. And, they are easy to install. Most homeowners are proficient enough to install their own K-Style gutters by themselves.
Half-Round – Half-Round gutters are usually made of copper and steel, and they complement rounded roofs, popular before 1950, so they provide homes a regal, classic appearance. However, more modern styles made from vinyl and plastic provide the best of both worlds, being both lightweight and functional. Half-Round rain gutters are harder to install, but much easier to clean out, when it’s time for gutter cleaning.
DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?
The climate of your region will dictate a lot about what gutters you should purchase. As we already mentioned, some materials don’t hold up well in extremely cold climates.
The single most important climate factor is how much work the gutters will have to do. In other words, how much water are the gutters going to need to withstand?
Professional gutter companies in Hammond can take a lot of factors into consideration to determine the size and the type of rain gutters that will work 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 statistic can be found 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 can happen within a 5-minute span.
Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a simple length times width calculation for residential roofs. But, you will have to factor in 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. Figuring out your roof-pitch factor is going to help you determine how much rainfall will actually be collected, regardless of the average rainfall statistics.
DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?
Snowfall will be included in 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 state, you need to seek professional guidance about the type of rain gutters that best prevent ice dams, which might severely damage your roof.
Of course, the final question is possibly the most important …
HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?
You also need 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 new gutters. Professional installation ensures efficiency, versus doing it yourself.
Most homeowners should consider paying a little extra for professional labor, knowing that the job will be done right. Another bonus of hiring Hammond Gutters & More! to install your new gutters is that we will help you answer all of your questions about new gutters so that you find the perfect style and type.