Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?
The first thing to consider when you are purchasing new gutters is, “Why?” This important question will help you answer most of the subsequent questions you’ll have before making your selection.
In our experience as a local gutter service, here are just three reasons homeowners might be in the market for new rain gutters:
An Upgrade – Switching out the gutters can really affect the appearance of your home, improving its look in a more subtle way than painting or new landscaping.
A New Home – Building a home comes with a constant stream of decisions about both appearance and functionality. Rain gutters are one of them. Choosing the gutters that go on your house is important because they should last approximately 20 years.
A Renovation – If your roof is damaged, the gutters may need to be replaced. Or, they might simply be aging and need to be replaced.
You will 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 without spending a lot of money.
Your landscaping is being damaged by ineffective gutters.
Figuring out your “Why” will provide direction while you are shopping. You’ll know what features are must-haves or if you can go with a more affordable product.
Here are the major questions you’ll want to consider when it’s time to purchase new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The best part about purchasing new rain gutters is choosing the style. Gutters will blend in or stand out against your home, depending on your personal preference.
These are the choices you will have, in order of cost:
VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS
Vinyl and plastic are economical options that are durable in most scenarios, besides extremely cold climates, where they can wear down. Vinyl and plastic gutters are acceptable in almost every region 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 of these materials come in a wide range of colors as well. They are fairly light and not hard 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, copper and stainless steel are the most expensive, but are the most eye-catching as well. Homeowners in Chesapeake who choose these materials are searching for an elegant touch, and that’s exactly what they’ll get!
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?
Most of the gutter materials above will offer both of these options:
SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS
Sectional gutters – These types of gutters are made in smaller sections, so they’re easy to install. In fact, many homeowners decide to install their own sectional gutters. This type is the less expensive choice, and they have more seams, which means more areas where leaks are going to occur.
Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters need to be installed by a contractor because they require specialized equipment. They are more expensive to order and 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 attributes to their popularity. And, they are easy to install. Most 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 give homes a regal, classic appearance. However, modern styles made out of vinyl and plastic provide the best of both worlds, because they are lightweight and highly functional. Half-Round gutters are harder to install, but easier to clean, when it’s time for gutter cleaning.
DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?
The climate of the region you live in will determine a lot about which gutters you should install. Like we already mentioned, some materials will not hold up 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 have to withstand?
Professional gutter companies in Chesapeake will take many factors into account to determine the size and type of gutters that are going to work the 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 statistic can be found on the National Weather Service or the U.S. Weather Bureau website. You should also find 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 basic length times width calculation for standard roofs. However, you 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 roof that is less sloped. Figuring out your roof-pitch factor will help to estimate how much rainfall will 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 be aware of the potential for ice dams. If it snows often in your region, you need to seek professional guidance about the type of rain gutters that best prevent ice dams, which might really damage your roof.
Of course, the last question is possibly the most important …
HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?
You also have to ask yourself if you’re going to do the work yourself, or if you are going to pay a professional to install your new gutters. Professional installation ensures efficiency, compared to doing it yourself.
Most homeowners are better off paying a little extra for professional labor, knowing that the installation will be done right. Another bonus of hiring Chesapeake Gutter Solutions to install the new gutters is that we can help you answer all of your questions about new gutters so that you find the perfect style and type for your home.