Which Gutters Are Right For Your Home?
The number one thing to ask yourself when you are planning to install new gutters is, “Why?” This pivotal question will help you answer many of the following questions you’ll have before making your final selection.
In our experience as a local gutter service, here are three reasons homeowners will be in the market for new gutters:
An Upgrade – Installing new rain gutters can significantly impact the appearance of your home, improving its look in a more subtle way than painting or new landscaping.
A New Home – Building a new home comes with a constant stream of decisions about both appearance and functionality. Gutters are no exception. Deciding on the gutters that go on your house is important because they will need to last approximately 20 years or more.
A Renovation – If the roof on your home has had damage, the gutters might need to be replaced. Or, they may simply be deteriorating and need to be replaced.
You obviously know why you are replacing the gutters on your home, but the reason often has underlying motivations…
You want to sell your home.
You want to renovate without spending a lot of money.
Your landscaping is getting damaged by ineffective gutters.
Determining your “Why” will help to provide direction while you are shopping for new gutters. You’ll know if certain features are must-haves or if you can go with a more affordable product.
Here are the questions you’ll want to consider when it’s time to purchase new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The fun part about installing new rain gutters is choosing the materials. Gutters can blend in or stand out against your home exterior, depending on your preference.
These are the choices for materials, in order of lowest to highest cost:
VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS
Vinyl and plastic are affordable materials that are durable in most scenarios, besides cold climates, where they can become brittle. 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 mid-priced materials are both stylish and durable. Both materials are available in a wide range of colors too. They are fairly light and are not hard to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) are able to 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 eye-catching as well. Homeowners in Augusta who purchase these options are looking for an elegant touch, and that’s exactly what they’ll get!
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?
Most of the gutter options above will offer both of these options:
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 contractor because they need specialized equipment. They are 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 popular because they look excellent with virtually any style of home. They’re better for angled roofs, which are far more common. This speaks to their popularity. And, they are not hard 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 regal, classic curb appeal. However, more modern styles made out of vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, because they are lightweight and functional. Half-Round gutters are much harder to install, but much 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 the 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 is available online on the National Weather Service or the U.S. Weather Bureau website. You can also find the maximum rainfall intensity for your area. This is the maximum 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. But, you will want 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. Knowing your roof-pitch factor is going to help you determine how much rainfall will be collected, regardless of the rainfall statistics.
DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?
Snowfall will be factored into 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 should seek professional guidance concerning the type of rain gutters that best prevent ice dams, which could severely damage your home’s roof.
Of course, the last question is possibly the most important …
HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?
You also need to ask yourself if you’re willing to try to do the work yourself, or if you want to enlist the services of a professional to install your gutters. Professional installation ensures efficiency, versus doing it yourself.
Most homeowners should consider paying a little extra for labor, knowing that the job will be done correctly. Another bonus of hiring A+ Augusta Gutters to install the gutters is that we are able to help you answer all your questions about new gutters so that you are able to find the perfect style and type.