Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?
The very first thing to ask yourself when you are shopping for new gutters is, “Why?” This pivotal question will help you answer the following questions you’ll have before purchasing your final selection.
In our experience as a local gutter service, here are just three reasons homeowners will be in the market for new rain gutters:
An Upgrade – Switching out the gutters can really impact the curb appeal of your home, enhancing its look in a subtler way than painting or new landscaping.
A New Home – Building a home comes with a constant stream of decisions about both appearance and functionality. Rain gutters are one of them. Choosing the first gutters that go on your house is important because they will need to last at least 15 years.
A Renovation – If your home’s roof been damaged, the gutters may need to be replaced. Or, they could simply be wearing down and need to be replaced with new ones.
You know why you are replacing the gutters, but the reason usually has underlying motivations…
You want to sell your home.
You want to renovate without spending a lot of money.
Your landscaping is being ruined by ineffective gutters.
Determining your “Why” will help to give you direction while you are shopping for new gutters. You’ll know what features are must-haves or if you can choose a less expensive product.
Here are the questions you’ll want to consider when it’s time to purchase new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The best part of purchasing new gutters is picking out the materials. Gutters can blend in or stand out against your house, depending on your preference.
These are the options you will have, in order of cost:
VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS
Vinyl and plastic are affordable choices that are durable in most cases, besides cold climates, where they can become brittle. Vinyl and plastic gutters are efficient in nearly every region of the country, and they come in a wide range of colors.
METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS
These reasonably priced materials are stylish and durable. Both materials are available in a wide range of colors as well. They are fairly lightweight and not difficult to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) will resist rust and corrosion even better.
COPPER & STAINLESS STEEL GUTTERS
Of all the rain gutter materials, copper and stainless steel cost the most, but are the most attractive as well. Homeowners in Everett who decide on these options are looking for an elegant touch, and that’s what they’ll get!
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?
Most of the gutter options above will offer these options below:
SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS
Sectional gutters – These types of gutters are made in smaller sections, so they’re easier to install. In fact, most 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 more areas where leaks can occur.
Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters should be installed by a local contractor because they need special equipment. They are more expensive to purchase and to 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 every style of home. They’re better for angled roofs, which are far more common. This one of the reasons for their popularity. In addition, they are easy to install. Most 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 recommended for rounded roofs, popular before 1950, so they provide homes a luxurious, established curb appeal. However, more modern styles made from vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, because they are 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 region you live in may determine a lot about what gutters you can have. Like we already mentioned, some types of materials don’t hold up well in extremely cold climates.
The most important climate factor to think about is how much work the gutters will need to do. Basically, how much water are the gutters going to need to withstand?
Professional gutter installers in Everett will take a lot of factors into consideration to get a good idea of 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 roofing 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 is available 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 max amount of rain that can happen within a 5-minute span.
Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a standard length times width calculation for residential roofs. However, you 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 roof that is less sloped. Knowing your roof-pitch factor is going to help you determine how much rainfall will be collected, regardless of the rainfall statistics found online.
DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?
Snowfall is included in precipitation calculations, but you also want to consider the potential for ice dams. If it snows regularly in your region, you need to seek professional guidance about the type of rain gutters that help to prevent ice dams from forming, which could really damage your home’s roof.
Of course, the last question is arguably the most important …
HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?
You also have to ask yourself if you’re willing 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 are better off paying a little extra for labor, knowing that the installation will be done correctly. Another bonus of hiring EZ Everett Gutters to install your new gutters is that we will help you answer all your questions about new gutters so that you find the best style and type.