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 you answer the subsequent questions you’ll have before making your selection.
In our experience as a local gutter service, here are three reasons homeowners might be in the market for new gutters:
An Upgrade – Installing new rain gutters can really affect the appearance of your house, increasing its look in a more subtle way than painting or landscaping.
A New House – Building a home comes with a constant stream of decisions about both appearance and functionality. Rain gutters are one of them. Deciding on the first gutters that go on your house is important because they should last at least 15-20 years or more.
A Renovation – If the roof on your home been damaged, the gutters might need to be replaced. Or, they could just be getting too old and need to be replaced with new ones.
You will know why you are installing new rain gutters on your home, but the reason usually has underlying motivations…
You want to sell your house.
You want to renovate without spending a lot of money.
Your landscaping is getting ruined by ineffective gutters.
Figuring out your “Why” will help to provide direction while you are shopping. You’ll know which 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 fun part about choosing new rain gutters is choosing the materials. Gutters can blend in or stand out against your home exterior, depending on your personal preference.
These are the choices you will have, in order of cost:
VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS
Vinyl and plastic are economical materials that hold up well in most cases, other than cold climates, where they can become brittle. Vinyl and plastic gutters are efficient in almost every region of the country, and they are available in a wide range of colors.
METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS
These mid-priced materials are attractive and durable. Both of these materials come in a variety of colors too. They are fairly lightweight and easy to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) resist rust and corrosion even better.
COPPER & STAINLESS STEEL GUTTERS
Of all the rain gutter materials, copper and stainless steel cost the most, but the most eye-catching as well. Homeowners in Fairfield who decide on these materials are looking for an elegant touch, and that’s 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 types of rain gutters are made in smaller sections, so they’re easy to install. In fact, homeowners decide to install their own sectional gutters on their own. This type is the more affordable choice, and they are made with more seams, which means there are more areas where leaks are going to occur.
Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters need to be installed by a local contractor because they require special tools. 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. Many 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 are best for rounded roofs, popular before 1950, so they provide homes a regal, established appearance. However, modern styles made out of vinyl and plastic provide the best of both worlds, because they are both lightweight and functional. Half-Round gutters are much harder to install, but much easier to clean, when the time comes for gutter cleaning.
DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?
The climate of the region you live in will dictate a lot about which gutters you can have. Like we already mentioned, some materials don’t hold up well in extremely cold climates.
The single most important climate factor is how much work the gutters will have to do. Basically, how much water are the gutters going to have to handle?
Professional gutter installers in Fairfield are going to take a lot of factors into consideration to determine the size and type of rain gutters that are going to work the best for your roof.
WHAT IS THE FORMULA?
Luckily, the formula professional home exterior 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 can be found on the National Weather Service or the U.S. Weather Bureau website. You should also look into the maximum rainfall intensity for your area. This is the maximum amount of rain that will occur within a 5-minute span.
Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a simple length times width calculation for standard roofs. But, 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. Determining your roof-pitch factor will help to calculate how much rainfall will actually be collected, regardless of the rainfall statistics.
DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?
Snowfall is factored into 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 need to seek professional guidance about the type of rain gutters that best prevent ice dams from forming, which can really damage your 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 do the work on your own, or if you want to pay a professional to install your new gutters. Professional installation ensures maximum efficiency, versus doing it yourself.
Most homeowners are better off paying a little extra for labor, knowing that the job will be done right. Another bonus of hiring Fairfield Gutter Specialists to install your gutters is that we will help you answer all of your questions about gutters so that you are able to find the perfect style and type.