Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?
The number one thing to ask yourself when you are purchasing new gutters is, “Why?” This important question will help you answer the subsequent questions you’ll have before purchasing your 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 gutters can really affect the curb appeal of your home, increasing its look in a subtler way than painting or landscaping.
A New House – Building a new home comes with a lot of of choices about both appearance and functionality. Gutters are no exception. Deciding on the first gutters that go on your home is important because they should last approximately 15 years or more.
A Renovation – If the roof on your home been damaged, the gutters may have to be replaced. Or, they might simply be deteriorating and need to be replaced.
You know why you are installing new 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 being damaged by ineffective gutters.
Determining your “Why” will give you direction while you are shopping. You’ll know what features are must-haves or if you can choose a less expensive product.
Here are the major questions you’ll have when purchasing new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The best part about choosing new gutters is choosing the style. Gutters will blend in or stand out against your home, depending on your preference.
These are the options for materials, in order of lowest to highest cost:
VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS
Vinyl and plastic are affordable choices that hold up well in most cases, besides extremely cold climates, where they will become brittle. Vinyl and plastic gutters are acceptable in almost every region of the country, and they come in a wide range of colors.
METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS
These mid-priced materials are both stylish and durable. Both of these materials are available in a wide range of colors as well. They are fairly lightweight and not difficult to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) are able to 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 eye-catching as well. Homeowners in Cincinnati who choose these options are looking for an elegant touch, and that’s just what they’ll get!
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?
Most of the gutter options above 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, many homeowners decide to install their own sectional gutters on their own. This type is the more affordable choice, and they are made with more seams, which means more sections where leaks can occur.
Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters will need to be installed by a professional contractor because they require specialized tools. They’re more expensive to order and to 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 far more common. This one of the reasons for their popularity. And, 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 prior to 1950, so they provide homes a luxurious, established curb appeal. However, more modern styles made out of vinyl and plastic provide the best of both worlds, being lightweight and highly functional. Half-Round rain gutters are harder to install, but much easier to clean, when it’s time for gutter cleaning.
DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?
The climate of the city you live in will determine a lot about which gutters you should install. As we mentioned, certain materials will not hold up in extremely cold climates.
The most important climate factor to think about is how much work the gutters will need to do. Essentially, how much water are the gutters going to have to handle?
Professional gutter contractors in Cincinnati will take several factors into account to get a good idea of the size and type of rain gutters that will work 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 weather 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 can happen within a 5-minute span.
Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a standard length times width calculation for standard roofs. However, you will 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. Determining your roof-pitch factor will help you calculate how much rainfall will actually be collected, regardless of the average rainfall statistics found online.
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 often in your state, you need to seek professional guidance concerning the type of gutters that help to prevent ice dams from forming, which might severely damage your home’s roof.
Of course, the last question is possibly 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 are going to hire a professional to install your gutters. Professional installation ensures efficiency, instead of doing it yourself.
Most homeowners are better off paying a little extra for labor, to ensure that the installation will be done right. Another bonus of hiring CIN Gutter Services 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.