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 you answer the subsequent questions you’ll have before purchasing your final selection.

In our experience as a local gutter service, here are just three reasons homeowners will be in the market for new rain gutters:

An Upgrade – Installing new gutters can significantly impact the curb appeal of your home, increasing its look in a more subtle way than painting or landscaping.

A New Home – Designing a home comes with a lot of of choices about appearance and functionality. Rain gutters included. Deciding on the gutters that go on your house is important because they will need to last approximately 15 years.

A Renovation – If the roof on your home is damaged, the gutters may have to be replaced, too. Or, they might just be wearing down and need to be replaced with new ones.

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 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 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 about choosing new gutters is picking out the style. Gutters can 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 extremely cold climates, where they can become brittle. Vinyl and plastic gutters are sufficient in most regions of the country, and they come in a wide variety of colors.

METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS

These mid-priced materials are attractive and durable. Both materials are available in a wide range of colors too. They are fairly light and are 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 rain gutter materials available, copper and stainless steel are the most expensive, but are the most eye-catching as well. Homeowners in Loveland who decide on these materials are looking for an elegant touch, and that’s just what they’ll get!

WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?

Almost all of the gutter types above offer both of these options:

SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS

Sectional gutters – These gutters are made in smaller sections, so they’re easy to install. In fact, homeowners decide to install their own sectional gutters. This type is the more affordable choice, and they have more seams, which means there are more areas where leaks can occur.

Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters will need to be installed by a professional contractor because they need special tools. They are more expensive to buy and 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 far more popular because they look excellent with every style of home. They’re better for angled roofs, which are more common. This attributes to their popularity. In addition, they are not hard to install. Many 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 are best for rounded roofs, popular prior to 1950, so they give homes a luxurious, classic curb appeal. However, modern styles made out of vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, being both lightweight and functional. Half-Round rain gutters are much harder to install, but easier to clean, when it’s time for gutter cleaning.

DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?

The climate of the region you live in will determine a lot about which gutters you should install. As we mentioned, some types of materials don’t hold up in extremely cold climates.

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

Professional gutter companies in Loveland can take a lot of factors into account to determine the size and the type of gutters that are going to work best for your roof.

WHAT IS THE FORMULA?

Luckily, the formula professional 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 weather 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 occurs within a 5-minute span.

Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a simple length times width calculation for basic roofs. However, you will want to figure 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 is going to help to calculate how much rainfall will be collected, regardless of the rainfall statistics found online.

DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?

Snowfall is factored into average precipitation calculations, but you definitely want to be aware of the potential for ice dams. If it snows regularly in your state, you need to seek professional guidance concerning the type of rain gutters that help to prevent ice dams, which can severely damage your home’s roof.

Of course, the final question is possibly 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 want to hire a professional to install your new gutters. Professional installation ensures maximum efficiency, instead of doing it yourself.

Most homeowners should consider paying a little extra for labor, knowing that the installation will be done right. An added bonus of hiring LikeNew Loveland Gutters to install your gutters is that we are able to help you answer all of your questions about gutters so that you are able to find the perfect style and type for your home.