Which Gutters Are Right For Your Home?
The very 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 purchasing your selection.
In our experience as a local gutter service, here are only three reasons homeowners will be in the market for new gutters:
An Upgrade – Installing new gutters can drastically impact the appearance of your house, increasing its look in a subtler way than painting or landscaping.
A New Home – Designing a new home comes with a constant stream of choices about both appearance and functionality. Gutters included. Deciding on the gutters that go on your home is important because they should last approximately 20 years or more.
A Renovation – If your roof has experienced damage, the gutters might need to be replaced. Or, they might simply be wearing down and need to be replaced with new ones.
You obviously know why you are replacing the rain gutters, but the reason usually has underlying motivations…
You want to sell your house.
You want to renovate but not spend a lot of money.
Your landscaping is being damaged by ineffective gutters.
Figuring out your “Why” will give you direction while you are shopping. You’ll know if certain features are important or if you can choose a less expensive product.
Here are the questions you’ll want to consider when purchasing new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The fun part about installing new gutters is choosing the materials. Gutters will blend in or stand out against your house, depending on your preference.
These are the options for materials, in order of lowest to highest cost:
VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS
Vinyl and plastic are affordable options that are durable in most cases, besides extremely cold climates, where they can wear down. Vinyl and plastic gutters are sufficient in most regions of the country, and they come in a wide range of colors.
METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS
These reasonably priced options are attractive and durable. Both materials are available in a wide range of colors too. They are fairly light and easy to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) withstand 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 attractive as well. Homeowners in Oak Park who decide on these options 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 these options:
SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS
Sectional gutters – These rain gutters are made in smaller sections, so they’re easy to install. In fact, most homeowners choose to install their own sectional gutters. This type is the more affordable choice, and they have more seams, which means there are 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 purchase and to 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 great with every style of home. They are better for angled roofs, which are more common. This one of the reasons for their popularity. Plus, 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 traditionally made of copper and steel, and they are best for rounded roofs, popular before 1950, so they provide homes a regal, classic curb appeal. However, more modern styles made from vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, being lightweight and functional. Half-Round gutters are harder to install, but easier to clean out, when the time comes for gutter cleaning.
DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?
The climate of the region you live in will determine a lot about which 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 weather statistic can be found on the National Weather Service or the U.S. Weather Bureau website. You should also check 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 basic length times width calculation for residential roofs. However, you will have 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. Determining your roof-pitch factor is going to help to determine how much rainfall will be collected, regardless of the average rainfall statistics found online.
DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?
Snowfall is going to be factored into average precipitation calculations, but you also want to consider the potential for ice dams. If it snows regularly in your city, you need to seek professional guidance concerning the type of gutters that help to prevent ice dams from forming, 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 hire a professional to install your gutters. Professional installation ensures efficiency, versus doing it yourself.
Most homeowners are better off paying a little extra for labor, knowing that the job will be done right. An added bonus of hiring Oak Park Gutter Cleaning to install your new gutters is that we are able to help you answer all of your questions about new gutters so that you find the perfect style and type for your home.