Which Gutters Are Right For Your Home?
The number one thing to ask yourself when you are purchasing new gutters is, “Why?” This pivotal question will help you answer the following questions you’ll have before purchasing your ultimate selection.
In our experience as a local gutter service, here are only three reasons homeowners will be in the market for new gutters:
An Upgrade – Installing new gutters can drastically affect the curb appeal of your house, increasing its look in a more subtle way than painting or new landscaping.
A New House – Building a home comes with a constant stream of decisions about both appearance and functionality. Gutters are one of them. Deciding on the gutters that go on your home is important because they will need to last approximately 20 years or more.
A Renovation – If the roof on your home has suffered damage, the gutters might have to be replaced, too. Or, they could just be getting too old and need to be replaced with new ones.
You know why you are replacing the rain gutters on your home, but the reason usually has underlying motivations…
You want to sell your home.
You want to renovate but not spend a lot of money.
Your landscaping is getting ruined by ineffective gutters.
Figuring out your “Why” will help to provide direction while you are shopping for new gutters. You’ll know which features are must-haves or if you can choose a more affordable product.
Here are the questions you’ll want to consider when it’s time to install new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The fun part of installing new gutters is choosing the style. Gutters can blend in or stand out against your house, depending on your preference.
These are the choices for materials, in order of cost:
VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS
Vinyl and plastic are economical choices that hold up well in most cases, other than extremely cold climates, where they can deteriorate. 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 materials are both stylish and durable. Both materials come in a wide range of colors as well. They are fairly lightweight and are not difficult to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) resist rust and corrosion even better.
COPPER & STAINLESS STEEL GUTTERS
Of all the gutter materials available, copper and stainless steel cost the most, but the most attractive as well. Homeowners in Tracy who choose these options are looking for an elegant touch, and that’s what they’ll get!
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?
Most of the gutter types above will offer these options below:
SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS
Sectional gutters – These types of rain gutters come in smaller sections, so they’re easy to install. In fact, many homeowners decide to install their own sectional gutters on their own. This type is the more affordable choice, and they have more seams, which means more areas where leaks are going to occur.
Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters should be installed by a local contractor because they need specialized equipment. They are more expensive to buy and to 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 almost any style of home. They are better for angled roofs, which are more common. This speaks to 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 usually made of copper and steel, and they are best for rounded roofs, popular before 1950, so they give homes a luxurious, established appearance. However, more modern styles made out of vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, because they are both lightweight and functional. Half-Round rain gutters are much 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 may determine a lot about what gutters you can havecontractors 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 check 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 basic length times width calculation for residential roofs. However, you 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 less sloped roof. Figuring out your roof-pitch factor is going to help you estimate how much rainfall will actually be collected, regardless of the average rainfall statistics found online.
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 forming on your roof. If it snows regularly in your region, you need to seek professional guidance concerning the type of rain gutters that help to prevent ice dams from forming, which can really damage your roof.
Of course, the final question is probably the most important …
HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?
You also need to ask yourself if you’re going to do the work yourself, or if you are going to hire a professional to install your new gutters. Professional installation will ensure maximum efficiency, compared to doing it yourself.
Most homeowners are better off paying a little extra for professional labor, knowing that the job will be done correctly. Another bonus of hiring Tracy Gutter Service to install your gutters is that we will help you answer all your questions about gutters so that you are able to find the perfect style and type for your home.