Which Gutters Are Right For Your Home?

The very first thing to consider when you are planning to install new gutters is, “Why?” This question will help you answer many of the questions you’ll have before purchasing 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 gutters can really affect the curb appeal of your house, improving its look in a more subtle way than painting or new landscaping.

A New Home – Building a new home comes with a constant stream of decisions about appearance and functionality. Rain gutters are one of them. Choosing the first gutters that go on your house is important because they should last approximately 20 years or more.

A Renovation – If the roof on your home has experienced damage, the gutters may need to be replaced, too. Or, they may simply be aging and need to be replaced.

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

You want to sell your house.

You want to renovate without spending a lot of money.

Your landscaping is being damaged by ineffective gutters.

Figuring out your “Why” will provide direction while you are shopping for new gutters. You’ll know what features are must-haves or if you can choose a less expensive product.

Here are the major questions you’ll want to consider when it’s time to purchase new gutters.

HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?

The best part of installing new rain gutters is choosing the materials. Gutters will blend in or stand out against your house, depending on your preference.

These are the choices for materials, in order of cost:

VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS

Vinyl and plastic are economical options that are durable in most cases, except in cold climates, where they can wear down. Vinyl and plastic gutters are acceptable in most regions of the country, and they come in a wide variety of colors.

METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS

These mid-priced options are stylish and durable. Both of these materials are available in a variety of colors too. They are fairly light and not difficult to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) are able to resist rust and corrosion even better.

COPPER & STAINLESS STEEL GUTTERS

Of all the gutter materials, copper and stainless steel cost the most, but are the most attractive as well. Homeowners in Louisville who decide on these options 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 offer both of these options:

SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS

Sectional gutters – These gutters are made in smaller sections, so they are easy to install. In fact, many homeowners choose to install their own sectional gutters. 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 will need to be installed by a professional contractor because they require special tools. 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 almost any style of home. They’re better for angled roofs, which are far more common. This speaks to their popularity. Plus, they are easy to install. Most homeowners are proficient enough to install their own K-Style gutters.

Half-Round – Half-Round gutters are usually made of copper and steel, and they are recommended for rounded roofs, popular before 1950, so they give homes a luxurious, classic curb appeal. However, modern styles made from vinyl and plastic provide the best of both worlds, because they are both lightweight and 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 may dictate a lot about which gutters you can have. Like we mentioned, certain types of materials will not hold up well in cold climates.

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

Professional gutter companies in Louisville will take several factors into consideration to determine the size and type of gutters that will work best for your roof.

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 is available online on the National Weather Service or the U.S. Weather Bureau website. You should also find 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 standard length times width calculation for standard roofs. But, you have to figure all the surfaces of multi-faceted roofs.

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

DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?

Snowfall is factored into precipitation calculations, but you also want to consider the potential for ice dams forming on your roof. If it snows regularly in your city, you should seek professional guidance about the type of rain gutters that best prevent ice dams from forming, which might really damage your home’s roof.

Of course, the last question is arguably the most important …

HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?

You also have to ask yourself if you’re going to try to do the work on your own, or if you are going to pay a professional to install your new gutters. Professional installation ensures efficiency, instead of doing it yourself.

Most homeowners are better off paying a little extra for professional labor, to ensure that the installation will be done right. An added bonus of hiring Louisville Gutters Plus to install the new gutters is that we are able to help you answer all of your questions about new gutters so that you are able to find the best style and type for your home.