Which Gutters Are Right For Your Home?
The very first thing to consider when you are purchasing new gutters is, “Why?” This question will help you answer the questions you’ll have before making your selection.
In our experience as a local gutter service, here are only three reasons homeowners might be shopping for new gutters:
An Upgrade – Installing new rain gutters can drastically impact the curb appeal of your house, improving its look in a more subtle way than painting or landscaping.
A New Home – Designing a home comes with a lot of of choices about both appearance and functionality. Rain gutters are one of them. Deciding on the gutters that go on your home is important because they should last approximately 20 years or more.
A Renovation – If the roof on your home been damaged, the gutters might need to be replaced, too. Or, they could just be wearing down and need to be replaced.
You will know why you are replacing the 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 damaged by ineffective gutters.
Determining your “Why” will help to give you direction while you are shopping. You’ll know if certain features are important or if you can go with a more affordable product.
Here are the major questions you’ll want to consider when it’s time to install new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The best part about purchasing new gutters is choosing the materials. Gutters can blend in or stand out against your house, depending on your personal preference.
These are the options for materials, in order of cost:
VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS
Vinyl and plastic are economical choices that are durable in most scenarios, except in extremely cold climates, where they can become brittle. Vinyl and plastic gutters are efficient in most regions of the country, and they are available in a wide range of colors.
METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS
These mid-priced materials are both attractive and durable. Both of these 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) are able to fend off rust and corrosion even better.
COPPER & STAINLESS STEEL GUTTERS
Of all the rain gutter materials available, copper and stainless steel cost the most, but the most attractive as well. Homeowners in Mishawaka who choose these options are looking for an elegant touch, and that’s exactly what they’ll get!
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?
Most of the gutter types above will offer these options:
SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS
Sectional gutters – These gutters come in smaller sections, so they are easier to install. In fact, many 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 contractor because they require special tools. They are more expensive to buy and 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 almost any style of home. They are better for angled roofs, which are more common. This one of the reasons for their popularity. Plus, they are easy to install. Many homeowners are proficient enough to install their own K-Style gutters by themselves.
Half-Round – Half-Round gutters are usually made of copper and steel, and they are best for rounded roofs, popular before 1950, so they give homes a regal, established appearance. However, more modern styles made out of vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, because they are lightweight and highly functional. Half-Round rain 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 your region will determine a lot about the gutters you can have. Like we mentioned, some types of materials will not hold up well in cold climates.
The single most important climate factor is how much work the gutters will need to do. In other words, how much water are the gutters going to need to handle?
Professional gutter companies in Mishawaka are going to take many factors into consideration to determine the size and the type of rain gutters that are going to work the best for your home.
WHAT IS THE FORMULA?
Luckily, the formula professional roofing contractors use is no 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 on the National Weather Service or the U.S. Weather Bureau website. You should also look into 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 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 less sloped roof. Knowing your roof-pitch factor will help to determine how much rainfall will actually be collected, regardless of the rainfall statistics.
DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?
Snowfall is included in precipitation calculations, but you definitely want to consider the potential for ice dams. If it snows often in your region, you need to seek professional guidance about the type of gutters that best prevent ice dams, which can severely 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 yourself, or if you want to hire a professional to install your new gutters. Professional installation will ensure efficiency, versus doing it yourself.
Most homeowners are better off paying a little extra for labor, knowing that the job will be done correctly. An added bonus of hiring Mishawaka Gutters & More! to install the new gutters is that we are able to help you answer all your questions about new gutters so that you are able to find the perfect style and type.