Which Gutters Are Right For Your Home?
The 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 making your ultimate selection.
In our experience as a local gutter service, here are only three reasons homeowners might be in the market for new gutters:
An Upgrade – Switching out the gutters can really affect the exterior style of your house, enhancing its look in a more subtle way than painting or new landscaping.
A New Home – Designing a new home comes with a constant stream of choices about appearance and functionality. Rain gutters included. Choosing the gutters that go on your house is important because they will need to last at least 15-20 years or more.
A Renovation – If the roof on your home is damaged, the gutters may need to be replaced, too. Or, they may just be wearing down and need to be replaced.
You obviously know why you are replacing the rain gutters, but the reason often has underlying motivations…
You want to sell your house.
You want to renovate but not spend a lot of money.
Your landscaping is being ruined by ineffective gutters.
Figuring out your “Why” will provide direction while you are shopping for new gutters. You’ll know if certain features are must-haves or if you can choose a more affordable product.
Here are the major questions you’ll want to consider when purchasing new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The fun part of purchasing new rain gutters is picking out the style. Gutters can blend in or stand out against your home, depending on your personal preference.
These are the choices for materials, in order of cost:
VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS
Vinyl and plastic are economical materials that are durable in most scenarios, besides extremely cold climates, where they can deteriorate. Vinyl and plastic gutters are sufficient in nearly 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 materials are available in a wide range of colors as well. They are fairly lightweight 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 available, copper and stainless steel cost the most, but the most eye-catching as well. Homeowners in Bloomington who decide on these materials are looking for an elegant touch, and that’s exactly what they’ll get!
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?
Almost all of the gutter types above will offer both of these options below:
SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS
Sectional gutters – These gutters come in smaller sections, so they’re easier to install. In fact, homeowners decide to install their own sectional gutters. This type is the more affordable choice, and they have 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 order 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 popular because they look excellent 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 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 provide homes a regal, classic curb appeal. However, modern styles made out of vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, because they are both lightweight and functional. Half-Round gutters are a lot harder to install, but much easier to clean, when the time comes for gutter cleaning.
DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?
The climate of the city you live in may determine a lot about what gutters you should purchase. Like we already mentioned, certain types of materials will not hold up in extremely cold climates.
The single most important climate factor to consider is how much work the gutters will have to do. Essentially, how much water are the gutters going to have to withstand?
Professional gutter contractors in Bloomington are going to take a lot of factors into account to get a good idea of the size and type of gutters that are going to work the best for your house.
WHAT IS THE FORMULA?
Luckily, the formula professional 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 weather statistic can be found online 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 occurs within a 5-minute span.
Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a standard length times width calculation for basic roofs. However, you have to factor in 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 will help to estimate how much rainfall will be collected, regardless of the rainfall statistics.
DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?
Snowfall is factored into average precipitation calculations, but you also want to consider the potential for ice dams. If it snows a lot in your region, you should seek professional guidance about the type of gutters that best prevent ice dams from forming, which might really damage your home’s roof.
Of course, the final question is arguably the most important …
HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?
You also need to ask yourself if you’re going to try to do the work on your own, or if you are going to hire a professional to install your gutters. Professional installation ensures maximum efficiency, instead of doing it yourself.
Most homeowners should consider paying a little extra for labor, to ensure that the job will be done correctly. Another bonus of hiring PRO Bloomington Gutters to install the gutters is that we are able to help you answer all your questions about new gutters so that you are able to find the best style and type for your home.