Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?
The very first thing to consider when you are planning to install new gutters is, “Why?” This question will help to answer the subsequent questions you’ll have before purchasing your final 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 drastically impact the appearance of your home, increasing its look in a subtler way than painting or new landscaping.
A New House – Designing a home comes with a lot of of choices about appearance and functionality. Gutters are one of them. Deciding on the gutters that go on your house is important because they will need to last at least 15-20 years or more.
A Renovation – If the roof on your home has suffered damage, the gutters may need to be replaced, too. Or, they may simply be deteriorating and need to be replaced with new ones.
You know why you are installing new rain gutters, but the reason often has underlying motivations…
You want to sell your home.
You want to renovate without spending too much money.
Your landscaping is getting damaged by ineffective gutters.
Determining your “Why” will give you direction while you are shopping. You’ll know if certain features are important or if you can go with a more affordable product.
Here are the questions you’ll need to ask when it’s time to purchase new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The best part of purchasing new gutters is picking out the style. Gutters will 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, besides extremely cold climates, where they can wear down. Vinyl and plastic gutters are sufficient in most regions of the country, and they are available in a wide range of colors.
METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS
These reasonably priced materials are attractive and durable. Both materials come in a variety of colors as well. They are fairly lightweight and not hard to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) withstand rust and corrosion even better.
COPPER & STAINLESS STEEL GUTTERS
Of all the rain gutter materials available, copper and stainless steel cost the most, but the most stylish as well. Homeowners in Rock Hill who decide on these options are searching for an elegant touch, and that’s exactly what they’ll get!
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?
Almost all of the gutter materials above will offer both of these options below:
SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS
Sectional gutters – These rain gutters come in smaller sections, so they are easier 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 areas where leaks can occur.
Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters should be installed by a local contractor because they need special tools. They’re more expensive to buy 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 almost any style of home. They’re better for angled roofs, which are more common. This attributes to their popularity. And, they are not hard to install. Many homeowners are proficient enough to install their own K-Style gutters.
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 regal, classic curb appeal. However, more modern styles made out of vinyl and plastic provide the best of both worlds, because they are both lightweight and highly functional. Half-Round rain gutters are harder to install, but easier to clean out, when the time comes for gutter cleaning.
DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?
The climate of the region you live in will dictate a lot about the gutters you should install. As we already mentioned, some types of materials will not hold up in extremely cold climates.
The most important climate factor to consider is how much work the gutters will have to do. Basically, how much water are the gutters going to need to withstand?
Professional gutter companies in Rock Hill can take many factors into consideration to get a good idea of the size and type of gutters that will work the best for your house.
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 is available online on the National Weather Service or the U.S. Weather Bureau website. You can also find the maximum rainfall intensity for the city you live in. This is the max amount of rain that occurs within a 5-minute span.
Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a simple length times width calculation for standard roofs. But, you will need 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 you estimate how much rainfall will actually be collected, regardless of the rainfall statistics.
DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?
Snowfall is factored into average precipitation calculations, but you definitely want to consider the potential for ice dams forming on your roof. If it snows a lot in your city, you should seek professional guidance concerning the type of rain gutters that help to prevent ice dams, which might really damage your roof.
Of course, the final question is arguably the most important …
HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?
You also need to ask yourself if you’re going to try to do the work on your own, or if you are going to enlist the services of a professional to install your gutters. Professional installation ensures efficiency, compared to doing it yourself.
Most homeowners should consider paying a little extra for labor, to ensure that the installation will be done correctly. Another bonus of hiring Rock Hill Gutter Service to install your gutters is that we will help you answer all of your questions about gutters so that you find the best style and type for your home.