Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?
The very first thing to consider when you are purchasing new gutters is, “Why?” This question will help to answer the following questions you’ll have before making your selection.
In our experience as a local gutter service, here are only three reasons homeowners might be shopping for new rain gutters:
An Upgrade – Switching out the rain gutters can significantly impact the curb appeal of your home, increasing its look in a subtler way than painting or new landscaping.
A New House – Designing a new home comes with a constant stream of decisions about appearance and functionality. Rain gutters included. Choosing the first gutters that go on your house is important because they will need to last at least 20 years or more.
A Renovation – If the roof on your home is damaged, the gutters may have to be replaced. Or, they could just be getting too old and need to be replaced.
You obviously know why you are installing new gutters on your home, but the reason typically has underlying motivations…
You want to sell your home.
You want to renovate without spending a lot of money.
Your landscaping is being damaged by ineffective gutters.
Figuring out your “Why” will often give you direction while you are shopping for new gutters. You’ll know what features are worth spending your money on or if you can go with a more affordable product.
Here are the questions you’ll have when it’s time to purchase new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The best part of purchasing new rain gutters is picking out the style. Gutters can blend in or stand out against your house, depending on your preference.
These are the choices you will have, 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 can wear down. Vinyl and plastic gutters are acceptable in nearly every region of the country, and they are available in a wide variety of colors.
METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS
These reasonably priced materials are both attractive and durable. Both materials are available in a wide range of colors too. They are fairly light and not difficult to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) fend off rust and corrosion even better.
COPPER & STAINLESS STEEL GUTTERS
Of all the gutter materials available, copper and stainless steel are the most expensive, but the most attractive as well. Homeowners in Hampton who choose these materials are searching for an elegant touch, and that’s what they’ll get!
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?
Almost all of the gutter options above will offer both of these options below:
SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS
Sectional gutters – These rain 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 more sections where leaks are going to occur.
Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters should be installed by a professional contractor because they require specialized tools. They’re more expensive to buy and install, but they are less likely to leak than sectional gutters.
K-STYLE OR HALF-ROUND GUTTERS
K-Style – K-Style gutters are far more popular because they look great 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 easy 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 complement rounded roofs, popular prior to 1950, so they provide homes a luxurious, classic curb appeal. However, more modern styles made from vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, because they are both lightweight and highly functional. Half-Round gutters are harder to install, but 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 the gutters you should purchase. Like we already mentioned, certain materials don’t hold up in extremely cold climates.
The most important climate factor is how much work the gutters will need to do. Essentially, how much water are the gutters going to have to withstand?
Professional gutter installers in Hampton can take several factors into consideration to determine the size and the type of rain gutters that are going to work 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 on the National Weather Service or the U.S. Weather Bureau website. You can 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 basic length times width calculation for basic roofs. However, you will want to figure 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 you determine 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 average precipitation calculations, but you definitely want to be aware of the potential for ice dams forming on your roof. If it snows a lot in your city, you need to seek professional guidance about the type of rain gutters that help to prevent ice dams, which could severely damage your roof.
Of course, the final question is arguably the most important …
HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?
You also have to ask yourself if you’re willing to try to do the work yourself, or if you are going to pay a professional to install your gutters. Professional installation will ensure maximum efficiency, instead of doing it yourself.
Most homeowners should consider paying a little extra for labor, to ensure that the job will be done right. Another bonus of hiring Hometown Hampton Gutters to install your gutters is that we will help you answer all of your questions about gutters so that you are able to find the best style and type for your home.