Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?
The number one thing to consider when you are planning to install new gutters is, “Why?” This question will help to answer many of the subsequent questions you’ll have before purchasing your final selection.
In our experience as a local gutter service, here are three reasons homeowners will be shopping for new rain gutters:
An Upgrade – Switching out the gutters can significantly affect the exterior style of your home, enhancing its look in a more subtle way than painting or landscaping.
A New House – Designing a new home comes with a constant stream of choices about both appearance and functionality. Rain gutters are no exception. Choosing the gutters that go on your home is important because they will need to last at least 20 years or more.
A Renovation – If the roof on your home has had damage, the gutters might need to be replaced, too. Or, they could simply be getting too old 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 house.
You want to renovate without spending a lot of money.
Your landscaping is being damaged by ineffective gutters.
Figuring out your “Why” will help to provide direction while you are shopping for new gutters. You’ll know which features are worth spending your money on or if you can choose a less expensive 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 materials. 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 affordable options that are durable in most cases, other than extremely cold climates, where they will wear down. Vinyl and plastic gutters are acceptable in most regions of the country, and they come in a wide variety of colors.
METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS
These reasonably priced materials are both attractive and durable. Both materials come in a wide range of colors as well. They are fairly light and easy 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 cost the most, but are the most eye-catching as well. Homeowners in Albany who choose these materials are looking for an elegant touch, and that’s what they’ll get!
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?
Most of the gutter options above offer these options:
SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS
Sectional gutters – These rain gutters come in smaller sections, so they’re easier to install. In fact, many homeowners decide to install their own sectional gutters on their own. This type is the less expensive choice, and they are made with more seams, which means there are more areas where leaks are going to occur.
Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters should be installed by a local contractor because they require specialized equipment. They are more expensive to purchase and to install, but they are 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 excellent with every style of home. They’re better for angled roofs, which are more common. This attributes to their popularity. And, they are easy to install. Most homeowners are capable 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 prior to 1950, so they give homes a luxurious, classic appearance. However, modern styles made from vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, being both lightweight and highly functional. Half-Round gutters are a lot harder to install, but they are easier to clean, when the time comes for gutter cleaning.
DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?
The climate of the city you live in may dictate a lot about what gutters you should purchase. Like we already mentioned, certain materials will not hold up well in cold climates.
The most important climate factor is how much work the gutters will have to do. Essentially, how much rain or water are the gutters going to have to handle?
Professional gutter companies in Albany are going to take many factors into account to determine the size and type of rain gutters that are going to work the best for your house.
WHAT IS THE FORMULA?
Luckily, the formula professional roofing 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 maximum amount of rain that can happen within a 5-minute span.
Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a standard length times width calculation for basic roofs. However, you will have to figure all the surfaces of multi-faceted roofs.
Roof-Pitch Factor – A steep roof will collect more wind-blown rain than a less sloped roof. Figuring out your roof-pitch factor will help to calculate how much rainfall will be collected, regardless of the average rainfall statistics.
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 should seek professional guidance about the type of gutters that best prevent ice dams from forming, which can severely damage your roof.
Of course, the final question is arguably the most important …
HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?
You also have 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 new gutters. Professional installation will ensure efficiency, compared to doing it yourself.
Most homeowners should consider paying a little extra for professional labor, knowing that the installation will be done right. Another bonus of hiring AllClean Albany Gutters to install your new gutters is that we are able to help you answer all of your questions about new gutters so that you are able to find the perfect style and type for your home.