Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?
The number one thing to consider when you are purchasing new gutters is, “Why?” This pivotal question will help to answer many of the questions you’ll have before purchasing your selection.
In our experience as a local gutter service, here are three reasons homeowners might be shopping for new gutters:
An Upgrade – Switching out the gutters can really impact the exterior style of your home, increasing its look in a more subtle way than painting or landscaping.
A New House – Building a home comes with a constant stream of choices about appearance and functionality. Gutters included. Choosing the gutters that go on your home is important because they will need to last at least 15 years.
A Renovation – If your 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 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 too much money.
Your landscaping is getting ruined by ineffective gutters.
Figuring out your “Why” will provide direction while you are shopping for new gutters. You’ll know what features are worth spending your money on or if you can choose a less expensive product.
Here are the major questions you’ll have when it’s time to purchase new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The best part about installing new gutters is picking out 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 affordable materials that are durable in most cases, other than cold climates, where they will wear down. Vinyl and plastic gutters are efficient in most regions of the country, and they are available in a wide range of colors.
METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS
These reasonably priced materials are stylish and durable. Both materials come in a wide range of colors too. They are fairly light and are not hard to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) are able to fend off rust and corrosion even better.
COPPER & STAINLESS STEEL GUTTERS
Of all the rain gutter materials available, copper and stainless steel cost the most, but are the most stylish as well. Homeowners in Renton who purchase these options are looking for an elegant touch, and that’s just what they’ll get!
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?
Almost all of the gutter types above will offer both of these options below:
SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS
Sectional gutters – These rain gutters come in smaller sections, so they’re easy to install. In fact, homeowners choose to install their own sectional gutters on their own. This type is the less expensive choice, and they have more seams, which means there are more sections where leaks are going to occur.
Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters need to be installed by a professional contractor because they require specialized equipment. They’re more expensive to order and install, but 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. Plus, they are easy to install. Many homeowners are capable enough to install their own K-Style gutters.
Half-Round – Half-Round gutters are traditionally made of copper and steel, and they are best for rounded roofs, popular before 1950, so they provide homes a luxurious, classic appearance. However, more modern styles made out of vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, being lightweight and functional. Half-Round 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 the city you live in will determine a lot about the gutters you should purchase. Like we mentioned, some types of materials don’t hold up well in extremely cold climates.
The most important climate factor to think about is how much work the gutters will have to do. Essentially, how much water are the gutters going to need to withstand?
Professional gutter contractors in Renton can take many factors into consideration to get a good idea of the size and the type of gutters that will work the best for your roof.
WHAT IS THE FORMULA?
Luckily, the formula professional roofing 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 is available online on the National Weather Service or the U.S. Weather Bureau website. You should also look into the maximum rainfall intensity for your area. This is the max amount of rain that will occur within a 5-minute span.
Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a standard length times width calculation for standard roofs. However, you will want to figure 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. Determining your roof-pitch factor is going to help to estimate how much rainfall will be collected, regardless of the rainfall statistics.
DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?
Snowfall is included in precipitation calculations, but you definitely 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 best prevent ice dams from forming, which might really damage your home’s 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 yourself, or if you are going to enlist the services of a professional to install your new gutters. Professional installation will ensure maximum efficiency, compared to doing it yourself.
Most homeowners should consider paying a little extra for labor, knowing that the installation will be done correctly. An added bonus of hiring Renton Gutters & More! to install your gutters is that we can help you answer all of your questions about new gutters so that you are able to find the perfect style and type.