Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?

The number one thing to ask yourself when you are shopping for new gutters is, “Why?” This important question will help to answer the subsequent questions you’ll have before purchasing your ultimate selection.

In our experience as a local gutter service, here are only three reasons homeowners will be in the market for new rain gutters:

An Upgrade – Switching out the rain gutters can significantly affect the appearance of your home, improving its look in a subtler way than painting or new landscaping.

A New Home – Building a new home comes with a constant stream of choices about both appearance and functionality. Rain gutters included. Deciding on the first gutters that go on your home is important because they should last approximately 15-20 years or more.

A Renovation – If your roof has suffered damage, the gutters might have to be replaced, too. Or, they could just be wearing down and need to be replaced.

You will know why you are replacing the rain gutters, but the reason usually has underlying motivations…

You want to sell your home.

You want to renovate but not spend a lot of money.

Your landscaping is getting ruined by ineffective gutters.

Figuring out your “Why” will often give you direction while you are shopping. You’ll know if certain features are must-haves or if you can go with a less expensive product.

Here are the major questions you’ll have when it’s time to install new gutters.

HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?

The best part about purchasing new rain gutters is choosing the materials. Gutters will 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 affordable choices that hold up well in most scenarios, other than cold climates, where they can deteriorate. Vinyl and plastic gutters are acceptable in most regions of the country, and they are available in a wide range of colors.

METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS

These reasonably priced materials are both stylish and durable. Both materials are available in a wide range of colors too. They are fairly lightweight and not difficult 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 are the most expensive, but the most attractive as well. Homeowners in Fayetteville who decide on these materials are looking for an elegant touch, and that’s what they’ll get!

WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?

Almost all of the gutter materials above will offer both of these options:

SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS

Sectional gutters – These rain gutters come in smaller sections, so they’re easier to install. In fact, 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 should be installed by a professional contractor because they need special equipment. They’re more expensive to purchase and to install, but they are less likely to leak than sectional gutters.

K-STYLE OR HALF-ROUND GUTTERS

K-Style – K-Style gutters are popular because they look great with virtually 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 not hard to install. Most 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 recommended for rounded roofs, popular prior to 1950, so they provide homes a regal, classic appearance. However, more modern styles made from vinyl and plastic provide the best of both worlds, being both 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 dictate a lot about which gutters you should install. Like we already mentioned, certain types of materials don’t hold up in cold climates.

The single most important climate factor is how much work the gutters will need to do. Basically, how much water are the gutters going to have to withstand?

Professional gutter contractors in Fayetteville will take many factors into account to determine the size and the type of gutters that will work best for your roof.

WHAT IS THE FORMULA?

Luckily, the formula professional home exterior 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 statistic can be found online on the National Weather Service or the U.S. Weather Bureau website. You can also find the maximum rainfall intensity for your area. This is the maximum amount of rain that will occur within a 5-minute span.

Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a basic length times width calculation for residential roofs. But, you will want to factor in all the surfaces of multi-faceted roofs.

Roof-Pitch Factor – A steep roof will collect more wind-blown rain than a less sloped roof. Figuring out your roof-pitch factor is going to help to calculate how much rainfall will be collected, regardless of the average rainfall statistics.

DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?

Snowfall will be factored into precipitation calculations, but you definitely want to consider the potential for ice dams. If it snows a lot in your city, you should seek professional guidance about the type of gutters that best prevent ice dams, which can severely damage your 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 do the work yourself, or if you want to pay a professional to install your gutters. Professional installation ensures efficiency, versus doing it yourself.

Most homeowners should consider paying a little extra for labor, knowing that the job will be done right. An added bonus of hiring First-Rate Fayetteville Gutters to install the new gutters is that we can help you answer all your questions about gutters so that you find the best style and type for your home.