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 you answer most of the following questions you’ll have before making your ultimate selection.

In our experience as a local gutter service, here are only three reasons homeowners will be in the market for new rain gutters:

An Upgrade – Switching out the rain gutters can really impact the appearance of your house, improving its look in a subtler way than painting or new landscaping.

A New Home – Building a home comes with a lot of of decisions about appearance and functionality. Gutters are one of them. Deciding on the first gutters that go on your house is important because they should last approximately 15-20 years or more.

A Renovation – If the roof on your home has experienced damage, the gutters may have to be replaced, too. Or, they may simply be deteriorating and need to be replaced.

You obviously know why you are replacing the gutters on your home, but the reason usually 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 for new gutters. You’ll know if certain features are worth spending money on or if you can go with a more affordable product.

Here are the questions you’ll have when purchasing new gutters.

HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?

The best part about purchasing new rain gutters is picking out the style. Gutters can blend in or stand out against your house, depending on your personal preference.

These are the options for materials, in order of cost:

VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS

Vinyl and plastic are economical options that hold up well in most cases, besides extremely cold climates, where they can become brittle. Vinyl and plastic gutters are acceptable in most regions of the country, and they are available in a wide variety of colors.

METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS

These mid-priced options are both stylish and durable. Both materials come in a variety of colors as well. They are fairly lightweight and easy to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) fend off 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 eye-catching as well. Homeowners in Columbus who choose these options are searching for an elegant touch, and that’s what they’ll get!

WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?

Almost all of the gutter options above will offer both of these options below:

SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS

Sectional gutters – These types of rain gutters are made in smaller sections, so they are easier to install. In fact, most homeowners decide 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 can occur.

Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters need to be installed by a professional contractor because they need special equipment. They’re more expensive to purchase and install, but less likely to leak than sectional gutters.

K-STYLE OR HALF-ROUND GUTTERS

K-Style – K-Style gutters are far more popular because they look great with virtually any style of home. They are better for angled roofs, which are far more common. This one of the reasons for their popularity. Plus, 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 recommended for rounded roofs, popular before 1950, so they provide homes a luxurious, established appearance. However, more modern styles made out of 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 it’s time for gutter cleaning.

DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?

The climate of the city you live in may determine a lot about what gutters you can have. As we mentioned, certain types of materials will not hold up in extremely cold climates.

The most important climate factor is how much work the gutters will need to do. Basically, how much rain or water are the gutters going to need to handle?

Professional gutter contractors in Columbus are going to take many factors into account to get a good idea of the size and the type of rain gutters that are going to work best for your home.

WHAT IS THE FORMULA?

Luckily, the formula professional roofing 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 can be found 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 can happen within a 5-minute span.

Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a simple length times width calculation for basic roofs. However, you have 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 less sloped roof. Figuring out your roof-pitch factor is going to help to calculate how much rainfall will be collected, regardless of the average rainfall statistics.

DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?

Snowfall will be included in precipitation calculations, but you definitely want to be aware of the potential for ice dams. If it snows often in your state, you need to seek professional guidance about the type of rain gutters that help to prevent ice dams, which can severely damage your home’s roof.

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

HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?

You also need to ask yourself if you’re willing to do the work on your own, or if you are going to hire a professional to install your gutters. Professional installation will ensure efficiency, versus doing it yourself.

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