Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?

The very first thing to consider when you are shopping for new gutters is, “Why?” This important question will help you answer 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 shopping for new gutters:

An Upgrade – Installing new rain gutters can really affect the exterior style of your house, enhancing its look in a more subtle way than painting or landscaping.

A New Home – Building a home comes with a lot of of choices about appearance and functionality. Gutters are one of them. Choosing the gutters that go on your house is important because they should last approximately 15 years.

A Renovation – If the roof on your home is damaged, the gutters may need to be replaced, too. Or, they might just be wearing down and need to be replaced with new ones.

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

You want to sell your home.

You want to renovate but not spend too much money.

Your landscaping is being ruined by ineffective gutters.

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

Here are the questions you’ll need to ask when it’s time to install new gutters.

HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?

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

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

VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS

Vinyl and plastic are economical choices that hold up well in most cases, other than cold climates, where they can deteriorate. 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 mid-priced materials are both stylish and durable. Both materials are available in a variety of colors as well. They are fairly lightweight and are not hard to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) will resist 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 stylish as well. Homeowners in Dublin who choose these materials are looking for an elegant touch, and that’s exactly what they’ll get!

WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?

Most of the gutter options above will offer these options:

SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS

Sectional gutters – These gutters are made in smaller sections, so they’re easier to install. In fact, most homeowners choose to install their own sectional gutters. This type is the less expensive choice, and they have more seams, which means more areas where leaks can occur.

Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters should be installed by a contractor because they need special equipment. They are more expensive to buy 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 far more common. This attributes to their popularity. In addition, they are not hard to install. Many 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 recommended for rounded roofs, popular prior to 1950, so they give homes a luxurious, established curb appeal. However, more modern styles made from vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, being both lightweight and functional. Half-Round rain gutters are a lot harder to install, but they are easier to clean, when the time comes for gutter cleaning.

DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?

The climate of your region will determine a lot about the gutters you should install. As we mentioned, some types of materials will not hold up well in extremely cold climates.

The most important climate factor is how much work the gutters will need to do. In other words, how much water are the gutters going to have to withstand?

Professional gutter companies in Dublin are going to take a lot of factors into consideration to determine the size and type of rain gutters that are going to work the best for your roof.

WHAT IS THE FORMULA?

Luckily, the formula professional home exterior 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 weather statistic is available on the National Weather Service or the U.S. Weather Bureau website. You should also find the maximum rainfall intensity for the city you live in. This is the maximum amount of rain that will occur within a 5-minute span.

Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a simple length times width calculation for residential roofs. But, you have 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. Determining your roof-pitch factor is going to help to determine how much rainfall will actually be collected, regardless of the rainfall statistics.

DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?

Snowfall is factored into precipitation calculations, but you also want to consider the potential for ice dams. If it snows regularly in your state, you should seek professional guidance concerning the type of gutters that help to prevent ice dams, which could really damage your roof.

Of course, the final question is arguably 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 enlist the services of a professional to install your gutters. Professional installation will ensure maximum efficiency, compared to doing it yourself.

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