Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?

The first thing to ask yourself when you are purchasing new gutters is, “Why?” This important question will help you answer many of 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 shopping for new rain gutters:

An Upgrade – Switching out the gutters can drastically impact the appearance of your home, enhancing its look in a subtler way than painting or new landscaping.

A New House – Building a home comes with a lot of of decisions about appearance and functionality. Rain gutters are no exception. Choosing the first gutters that go on your house is important because they will need to last at least 15 years.

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

You obviously know why you are installing new gutters on your home, but the reason often has underlying motivations…

You want to sell your house.

You want to renovate but not spend too much money.

Your landscaping is getting ruined by ineffective gutters.

Determining your “Why” will often provide direction while you are shopping for new gutters. You’ll know which features are worth spending money on 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 fun part about purchasing new rain gutters is picking out the style. Gutters will blend in or stand out against your house, 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 affordable options that are durable in most scenarios, except in extremely cold climates, where they can wear down. Vinyl and plastic gutters are acceptable in most regions of the country, and they come in a wide range of colors.

METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS

These reasonably priced materials are attractive and durable. Both of these materials come in a variety of colors as well. They are fairly light and not difficult 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, copper and stainless steel are the most expensive, but are the most stylish as well. Homeowners in Raleigh who decide on these materials are searching for an elegant touch, and that’s just what they’ll get!

WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?

Most of the gutter materials 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 choose to install their own sectional gutters on their own. This type is the more affordable 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 specialized equipment. They are more expensive to order and to 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 popular because they look excellent with every style of home. They are better for angled roofs, which are more common. This attributes to their popularity. Plus, they are not hard to install. Most homeowners are proficient enough to install their own K-Style gutters.

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 regal, established appearance. However, modern styles made from vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, because they are both lightweight and highly functional. Half-Round gutters are much harder to install, but they are easier to clean out, when it’s time for gutter cleaning.

DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?

The climate of the city you live in may dictate a lot about which gutters you should install. As we already mentioned, some types of materials will not hold up well in extremely cold climates.

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

Professional gutter installers in Raleigh will take many factors into account to determine the size and type of gutters that will work best for your house.

WHAT IS THE FORMULA?

Luckily, the formula professional contractors 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 is available online 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 standard length times width calculation for residential roofs. However, you will 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 roof that is less sloped. Knowing your roof-pitch factor will help to determine how much rainfall will be collected, regardless of the rainfall statistics found online.

DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?

Snowfall is included in average precipitation calculations, but you also want to consider the potential for ice dams forming on your roof. If it snows a lot in your region, you should seek professional guidance about the type of gutters that best prevent ice dams from forming, which could really damage your home’s roof.

Of course, the final question is probably the most important …

HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?

You also have to ask yourself if you’re willing to try to do the work on your own, or if you want to hire a professional to install your new gutters. Professional installation ensures maximum efficiency, versus 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 PRO Raleigh Gutters to install your new 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 for your home.