Which Gutters Are Right For Your Home?
The number one thing to ask yourself when you are purchasing new gutters is, “Why?” This pivotal question will help you answer many of the questions you’ll have before purchasing your selection.
In our experience as a local gutter service, here are three reasons homeowners might be in the market for new rain gutters:
An Upgrade – Switching out the rain gutters can drastically affect the appearance of your home, enhancing its look in a more subtle way than painting or landscaping.
A New House – Designing a home comes with a lot of of decisions about both appearance and functionality. Gutters are no exception. Deciding on the first gutters that go on your home is important because they will need to last at least 20 years.
A Renovation – If your home’s roof has had damage, the gutters might have to be replaced. Or, they may just be wearing down and need to be replaced.
You obviously know why you are replacing the gutters, but the reason usually has underlying motivations…
You want to sell your home.
You want to renovate but not spend too much money.
Your landscaping is getting ruined by ineffective gutters.
Figuring out your “Why” will give you direction while you are shopping. You’ll know if certain features are worth spending money on or if you can choose a more affordable product.
Here are the major questions you’ll need to ask when purchasing new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The fun part of installing new gutters is choosing the style. Gutters will blend in or stand out against your home exterior, depending on your personal 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 cases, other than extremely cold climates, where they will become brittle. Vinyl and plastic gutters are acceptable in almost every region of the country, and they come in a wide variety of colors.
METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS
These mid-priced materials are both attractive and durable. Both materials come in a wide range of colors as well. They are fairly light and are 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 rain gutter materials, copper and stainless steel are the most expensive, but are the most eye-catching as well. Homeowners in San Ramon who purchase these materials are looking for an elegant touch, and that’s just what they’ll get!
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?
Most of the gutter materials above offer these options below:
SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS
Sectional gutters – These rain gutters are made in smaller sections, so they’re easy to install. In fact, homeowners choose 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 should be installed by a local contractor because they require specialized tools. They are more expensive to purchase and 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 almost any style of home. They are better for angled roofs, which are far more common. This one of the reasons for their popularity. Plus, 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 complement rounded roofs, popular before 1950, so they provide homes a luxurious, 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 a lot harder to install, but they are easier to clean out, when the time comes for gutter cleaning.
DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?
The climate of your region may dictate a lot about what 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 is available online on the National Weather Service or the U.S. Weather Bureau website. You should also find the maximum rainfall intensity for the city you live in. This is the maximum amount of rain that will occur within a 5-minute span.
Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a standard length times width calculation for basic roofs. But, you want to figure all the surfaces of multi-faceted roofs.
Roof-Pitch Factor – A steep roof will collect more wind-blown rain than a roof that is less sloped. Knowing your roof-pitch factor will help you calculate how much rainfall will be collected, regardless of the rainfall statistics found online.
DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?
Snowfall will be included in average precipitation calculations, but you also want to be aware of the potential for ice dams. If it snows often in your state, you should seek professional guidance concerning the type of rain gutters that help to prevent ice dams from forming, which can really damage your roof.
Of course, the last 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 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 professional labor, to ensure that the job will be done correctly. An added bonus of hiring Simply San Ramon 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 find the perfect style and type.