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 you answer most of the subsequent questions you’ll have before purchasing your ultimate selection.

In our experience as a local gutter service, here are three reasons homeowners will be shopping for new gutters:

An Upgrade – Installing new gutters can really affect the appearance of your house, improving its look in a subtler way than painting or landscaping.

A New House – Designing a new home comes with a constant stream of choices about appearance and functionality. Rain gutters are one of them. Choosing the gutters that go on your home is important because they will need to last approximately 15 years or more.

A Renovation – If the roof on your home been damaged, the gutters may have to be replaced, too. Or, they might simply be wearing down and need to be replaced.

You know why you are installing new rain gutters, but the reason usually has underlying motivations…

You want to sell your home.

You want to renovate but not spend a lot of money.

Your landscaping is being damaged by ineffective gutters.

Determining your “Why” will provide direction while you are shopping. 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 need to ask when purchasing new gutters.

HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?

The fun part about purchasing new gutters is choosing the style. Gutters will blend in or stand out against your home exterior, depending on your preference.

These are the options you will have, in order of cost:

VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS

Vinyl and plastic are economical options that are durable in most cases, other than extremely cold climates, where they can become brittle. Vinyl and plastic gutters are efficient in most regions of the country, and they come in a wide range of colors.

METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS

These mid-priced materials are attractive and durable. Both of these materials are available in a variety of colors too. They are fairly light and easy 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 stylish as well. Homeowners in Noblesville 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 options above will offer both of these options below:

SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS

Sectional gutters – These types of gutters are made in smaller sections, so they’re easier to install. In fact, many homeowners choose to install their own sectional gutters. This type is the less expensive choice, and they are made with more seams, which means there are more sections where leaks can occur.

Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters will need to be installed by a local contractor because they need specialized equipment. They’re more expensive to buy 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 great with every style of home. They’re better for angled roofs, which are far more common. This one of the reasons for their popularity. Plus, they are easy to install. Most homeowners are capable enough to install their own K-Style gutters by themselves.

Half-Round – Half-Round gutters are usually made of copper and steel, and they are best for rounded roofs, popular before 1950, so they give homes a regal, established curb appeal. However, more modern styles made from vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, being lightweight and highly functional. Half-Round gutters are much harder to install, but easier to clean, when the time comes for gutter cleaning.

DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?

The climate of your region will determine a lot about what gutters you should install. As we already mentioned, certain materials will not hold up well in extremely cold climates.

The most important climate factor is how much work the gutters will have to do. Basically, how much rain or water are your gutters going to have to handle?

Professional gutter companies in Noblesville are going to take a lot of factors into consideration to determine the size and type of rain gutters that will work best for your roof.

WHAT IS THE FORMULA?

Luckily, the formula professional gutter 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 can be found 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 can happen within a 5-minute span.

Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a basic length times width calculation for standard roofs. But, you will want 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 you calculate how much rainfall will be collected, regardless of the rainfall statistics.

DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?

Snowfall is 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 regularly in your state, you need to seek professional guidance concerning the type of gutters that help to prevent ice dams, which might really damage your home’s roof.

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

HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?

You also have to ask yourself if you’re willing to do the work yourself, or if you want to hire a professional to install your gutters. Professional installation will ensure efficiency, compared to doing it yourself.

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