Which Gutters Are Right For Your Home?
The number one thing to consider when you are purchasing new gutters is, “Why?” This question will help to answer most of the following questions you’ll have before making your selection.
In our experience as a local gutter service, here are three reasons homeowners might be in the market for new gutters:
An Upgrade – Installing new rain gutters can really impact the appearance of your house, improving its look in a subtler way than painting or landscaping.
A New Home – Building a home comes with a lot of of decisions about appearance and functionality. Gutters are one of them. Deciding on the first gutters that go on your house is important because they will need to last approximately 20 years or more.
A Renovation – If the roof on your home has suffered damage, the gutters might have to be replaced. Or, they could simply be getting too old and need to be replaced.
You will know why you are replacing the rain gutters, 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 being damaged by ineffective gutters.
Determining your “Why” will give you direction while you are shopping. You’ll know which features are important or if you can choose 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 fun part of choosing new rain gutters is picking out the style. Gutters will blend in or stand out against your home exterior, depending on your personal preference.
These are the options you will have, in order of cost:
VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS
Vinyl and plastic are economical choices that are durable in most scenarios, except in cold climates, where they can deteriorate. Vinyl and plastic gutters are sufficient in most regions of the country, and they are available in a wide range of colors.
METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS
These mid-priced options are stylish and durable. Both materials come in a wide range of colors as well. They are fairly lightweight and not difficult to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) will resist 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 are the most attractive as well. Homeowners in Bowling Green who purchase these options are looking for an elegant touch, and that’s just what they’ll get!
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?
Most of the gutter materials above will offer both of these options:
SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS
Sectional gutters – These types of rain gutters come in smaller sections, so they are easy to install. In fact, most homeowners choose to install their own sectional gutters. This type is the more affordable 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 tools. They’re more expensive to purchase and to install, but they are less likely to leak or wear down 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 speaks to their popularity. Plus, 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 recommended for rounded roofs, popular before 1950, so they provide homes a regal, established appearance. However, more modern styles made from vinyl and plastic provide the best of both worlds, because they are both lightweight and functional. Half-Round gutters are a lot harder to install, but they are easier to clean out, when the time comes for gutter cleaning.
DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?
The climate of your region will dictate a lot about what gutters you should purchase. Like we already mentioned, certain materials will not hold up well in extremely cold climates.
The single most important climate factor is how much work the gutters will have to do. In other words, how much rain or water are the gutters going to have to withstand?
Professional gutter companies in Bowling Green can take several factors into account to determine the size and the type of gutters that will work best for your house.
WHAT IS THE FORMULA?
Luckily, the formula professional gutter 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 on the National Weather Service or the U.S. Weather Bureau website. You can also check the maximum rainfall intensity for your area. This is the maximum amount of rain that occurs within a 5-minute span.
Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a simple length times width calculation for standard roofs. However, you 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 roof that is less sloped. Figuring out your roof-pitch factor is going to help to estimate how much rainfall will actually be collected, regardless of the average rainfall statistics found online.
DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?
Snowfall is going to be included in precipitation calculations, but you also want to consider the potential for ice dams. If it snows a lot in your region, you should seek professional guidance about the type of gutters that help to prevent ice dams, which might severely damage your home’s 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 try to do the work yourself, or if you want to hire a professional to install your new gutters. Professional installation ensures efficiency, versus doing it yourself.
Most homeowners are better off paying a little extra for labor, to ensure that the job will be done correctly. An added bonus of hiring Better Bowling Green Gutters 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 perfect style and type.