Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?
The number one thing to consider when you are purchasing new gutters is, “Why?” This pivotal question will help you answer the questions you’ll have before making your final selection.
In our experience as a local gutter service, here are only three reasons homeowners will be shopping for new rain gutters:
An Upgrade – Switching out the gutters can significantly affect the exterior style of your home, improving its look in a subtler way than painting or landscaping.
A New Home – Building a new home comes with a lot of of decisions about both appearance and functionality. Gutters are one of them. Choosing the first gutters that go on your home is important because they should last at least 15 years.
A Renovation – If your roof is damaged, the gutters might have to be replaced. Or, they could just be getting too old and need to be replaced.
You will know why you are installing new rain gutters on your home, but the reason typically has underlying motivations…
You want to sell your home.
You want to renovate without spending too much money.
Your landscaping is getting damaged by ineffective gutters.
Determining your “Why” will help to provide direction while you are shopping for new gutters. You’ll know if certain features are worth spending your money on or if you can choose a more affordable product.
Here are the major questions you’ll have when it’s time to purchase new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The best part about installing new rain gutters is choosing the style. Gutters can blend in or stand out against your house, depending on your personal preference.
These are the choices for materials, in order of lowest to highest cost:
VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS
Vinyl and plastic are economical choices that hold up well in most cases, besides cold climates, where they will deteriorate. Vinyl and plastic gutters are acceptable 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 both stylish and durable. Both of these materials come in a variety of colors as well. They are fairly lightweight and are not hard to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) will withstand rust and corrosion even better.
COPPER & STAINLESS STEEL GUTTERS
Of all the gutter materials available, copper and stainless steel are the most expensive, but are the most eye-catching as well. Homeowners in Norfolk who purchase these materials are searching for an elegant touch, and that’s exactly what they’ll get!
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?
Most of the gutter materials above offer both of these options:
SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS
Sectional gutters – These gutters are made in smaller sections, so they are easier to install. In fact, most homeowners choose 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 are going to occur.
Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters should be installed by a contractor because they need specialized equipment. They are more expensive to purchase 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 every style of home. They are better for angled roofs, which are more common. This one of the reasons for their popularity. And, they are not hard 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 complement rounded roofs, popular before 1950, so they give homes a regal, established curb appeal. However, more modern styles made from vinyl and plastic provide the best of both worlds, being lightweight and functional. Half-Round rain gutters are 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 will determine a lot about which gutters you should install. As we mentioned, certain types of materials don’t hold up in cold climates.
The most important climate factor to consider is how much work the gutters will have to do. Essentially, how much water are your gutters going to have to withstand?
Professional gutter installers in Norfolk can take several factors into consideration to get a good idea of the size and type of gutters that will work the best for your roof.
WHAT IS THE FORMULA?
Luckily, the formula professional home exterior 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 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 max amount of rain that can happen within a 5-minute span.
Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a basic length times width calculation for standard roofs. However, you will need 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 roof that is less sloped. Determining your roof-pitch factor will help to estimate how much rainfall will be collected, regardless of the average rainfall statistics.
DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?
Snowfall is going to be factored into average precipitation calculations, but you also want to be aware of the potential for ice dams. If it snows a lot in your region, you need to seek professional guidance about the type of rain 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 going to try to do the work on your own, or if you are going to enlist the services of a professional to install your new gutters. Professional installation will ensure maximum efficiency, instead of doing it yourself.
Most homeowners are better off paying a little extra for professional labor, knowing that the job will be done right. An added bonus of hiring Norfolk Gutters Plus to install your gutters is that we can help you answer all your questions about new gutters so that you are able to find the best style and type.