Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?

The first thing to ask yourself when you are purchasing new gutters is, “Why?” This pivotal question will help to answer the following questions you’ll have before making your final selection.

In our experience as a local gutter service, here are just three reasons homeowners might be shopping for new gutters:

An Upgrade – Installing new rain gutters can drastically affect the curb appeal of your home, increasing its look in a more subtle way than painting or landscaping.

A New Home – Designing a home comes with a constant stream of decisions about both appearance and functionality. Gutters are one of them. Choosing the gutters that go on your house is important because they will need to last at least 20 years.

A Renovation – If your home’s roof is damaged, the gutters may have to be replaced, too. Or, they could simply be wearing down and need to be replaced with new ones.

You obviously know why you are replacing the gutters on your home, but the reason typically has underlying motivations…

You want to sell your home.

You want to renovate without spending a lot of money.

Your landscaping is being damaged by ineffective gutters.

Determining your “Why” will help to provide direction while you are shopping. You’ll know if certain features are worth spending your money on or if you can go with a more affordable 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 rain gutters is picking out the materials. Gutters can blend in or stand out against your home exterior, depending on your preference.

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

VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS

Vinyl and plastic are economical options that are durable in most cases, other than cold climates, where they can wear down. Vinyl and plastic gutters are sufficient in most regions of the country, and they are available in a wide variety of colors.

METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS

These reasonably priced options are stylish and durable. Both materials are available in a variety of colors as well. They are fairly light and are not hard 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 the most eye-catching as well. Homeowners in Roanoke 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 offer these options below:

SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS

Sectional gutters – These types of 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 more affordable choice, and they have more seams, which means there are more areas where leaks can occur.

Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters will need to be installed by a contractor because they require special tools. They are more expensive to purchase and 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 far more 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. And, they are easy to install. Most 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 recommended for rounded roofs, popular prior to 1950, so they provide homes a luxurious, established curb appeal. However, modern styles made from vinyl and plastic provide the best of both worlds, because they are both lightweight and functional. Half-Round rain gutters are a lot harder to install, but they are easier to clean out, when the time comes for gutter cleaning.

DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?

The climate of the city you live in may dictate a lot about what gutters you can have. Like we already mentioned, certain types of materials don’t hold up in 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 withstand?

Professional gutter installers in Roanoke are going to take several factors into account to determine the size and type of gutters that will work the best for your roof.

WHAT IS THE FORMULA?

Luckily, the formula professional 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 statistic is available 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 will occur within a 5-minute span.

Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a basic length times width calculation for basic roofs. However, you need 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 roof that is less sloped. Figuring out your roof-pitch factor will help you estimate how much rainfall will actually be collected, regardless of the rainfall statistics.

DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?

Snowfall is included in average precipitation calculations, but you also want to consider the potential for ice dams forming on your roof. If it snows often in your state, you should seek professional guidance concerning the type of gutters that help to prevent ice dams, which might really damage your roof.

Of course, the last question is possibly the most important …

HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?

You also need to ask yourself if you’re willing to do the work yourself, or if you are going to pay a professional to install your new gutters. Professional installation ensures maximum efficiency, versus doing it yourself.

Most homeowners are better off paying a little extra for labor, knowing that the installation will be done right. Another bonus of hiring Roanoke Gutters to install your new gutters is that we are able to help you answer all of your questions about gutters so that you are able to find the best style and type for your home.