Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?
The number one thing to consider when you are shopping for new gutters is, “Why?” This question will help to answer many of the questions you’ll have before making your final 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 appearance of your house, enhancing its look in a more subtle way than painting or landscaping.
A New Home – Designing a home comes with a lot of of decisions about appearance and functionality. Gutters are no exception. Deciding on the gutters that go on your home is important because they will need to last at least 15 years or more.
A Renovation – If your home’s roof been damaged, the gutters might have to be replaced. Or, they might simply be aging and need to be replaced with new ones.
You know why you are installing new gutters on your home, but the reason often has underlying motivations…
You want to sell your home.
You want to renovate but not spend too much money.
Your landscaping is being damaged by ineffective gutters.
Determining your “Why” will often give you direction while you are shopping. You’ll know which features are important or if you can choose a less expensive product.
Here are the questions you’ll need to ask when it’s time to install new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The best part of installing new rain gutters is picking out the materials. Gutters will blend in or stand out against your home, depending on your preference.
These are the options for materials, in order of lowest to highest cost:
VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS
Vinyl and plastic are economical materials that hold up well in most cases, other than cold climates, where they will wear down. Vinyl and plastic gutters are sufficient in most regions of the country, and they come in a wide variety of colors.
METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS
These reasonably priced materials are stylish and durable. Both materials are available in a variety of colors as well. They are fairly lightweight and 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 available, copper and stainless steel are the most expensive, but the most attractive as well. Homeowners in Toms River who choose these materials are looking for an elegant touch, and that’s exactly what they’ll get!
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?
Most of the gutter materials above will offer both of these options below:
SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS
Sectional gutters – These types of rain gutters are made in smaller sections, so they are easy to install. In fact, homeowners choose to install their own sectional gutters on their own. This type is the less expensive 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 require specialized tools. They are more expensive to order 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 excellent with every style of home. They’re better for angled roofs, which are more common. This attributes to their popularity. In addition, they are easy to install. Most homeowners are proficient 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 give homes a regal, established appearance. However, modern styles made from vinyl and plastic provide the best of both worlds, being lightweight and functional. Half-Round gutters are harder to install, but they are easier to clean, when it’s time for gutter cleaning.
DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?
The climate of the city you live in may dictate a lot about which gutters you can have. As we mentioned, certain materials don’t hold up in extremely cold climates.
The most important climate factor to consider is how much work the gutters will have to do. Basically, how much water are the gutters going to need to handle?
Professional gutter contractors in Toms River will take many factors into account to get a good idea of the size and type of rain gutters that are going to work the best for your home.
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 is available online on the National Weather Service or the U.S. Weather Bureau website. You should also find the maximum rainfall intensity for your area. This is the max amount of rain that will occur within a 5-minute span.
Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a simple length times width calculation for standard roofs. But, 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. Figuring out your roof-pitch factor will help to determine how much rainfall will actually be collected, regardless of the rainfall statistics found online.
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 often in your region, you should seek professional guidance concerning the type of gutters that best prevent ice dams from forming, which can severely damage your home’s roof.
Of course, the final question is arguably the most important …
HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?
You also have to ask yourself if you’re going to do the work on your own, or if you are going to enlist the services of a professional to install your gutters. Professional installation ensures maximum efficiency, compared to doing it yourself.
Most homeowners should consider paying a little extra for professional labor, to ensure that the installation will be done correctly. Another bonus of hiring TruClean Toms River Gutters to install your 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.