Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?
The first thing to ask yourself when you are shopping for new gutters is, “Why?” This pivotal question will help you answer most of the questions you’ll have before making your selection.
In our experience as a local gutter service, here are three reasons homeowners will be in the market for new rain gutters:
An Upgrade – Installing new gutters can really affect the curb appeal of your home, enhancing its look in a subtler way than painting or landscaping.
A New House – Building a new home comes with a lot of of choices about appearance and functionality. Gutters included. Deciding on the first gutters that go on your house is important because they will need to last approximately 15 years.
A Renovation – If your home’s roof been damaged, the gutters might have to be replaced, too. Or, they may just be aging and need to be replaced with new ones.
You will know why you are installing new gutters, but the reason typically has underlying motivations…
You want to sell your house.
You want to renovate without spending a lot of money.
Your landscaping is getting damaged by ineffective gutters.
Figuring out your “Why” will give you direction while you are shopping. You’ll know if certain features are must-haves or if you can go with a more affordable product.
Here are the questions you’ll want to consider when purchasing new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The fun part about installing new gutters is picking out the style. Gutters can blend in or stand out against your house, depending on your personal preference.
These are the choices for materials, in order of cost:
VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS
Vinyl and plastic are economical materials that are durable in most scenarios, besides extremely cold climates, where they can wear down. Vinyl and plastic gutters are acceptable in most regions of the country, and they are available in a wide variety of colors.
METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS
These mid-priced options are attractive and durable. Both of these materials come in a wide range of colors as well. They are fairly lightweight 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 rain gutter materials, copper and stainless steel cost the most, but the most eye-catching as well. Homeowners in Olympia who purchase these options are searching for an elegant touch, and that’s what they’ll get!
WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?
Most of the gutter materials above will offer both of these options below:
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 less expensive choice, and they are made with more seams, which means there are more areas where leaks can occur.
Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters should be installed by a local contractor because they require special tools. They’re more expensive to buy 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 virtually any style of home. They’re better for angled roofs, which are far more common. This attributes to their popularity. In addition, they are not hard 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 best for rounded roofs, popular before 1950, so they provide homes a regal, classic appearance. However, more modern styles made from vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, because they are lightweight and functional. Half-Round rain gutters are much harder to install, but easier to clean out, when the time comes for gutter cleaning.
DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?
The climate of the region you live in may determine a lot about which gutters you should purchase. Like we already mentioned, certain materials don’t hold up well in cold climates.
The single most important climate factor is how much work the gutters will need to do. Essentially, how much water are your gutters going to have to handle?
Professional gutter contractors in Olympia can take many factors into consideration to determine the size and the type of gutters that will work the best for your home.
WHAT IS THE FORMULA?
Luckily, the formula professional roofing 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 statistic can be found on the National Weather Service or the U.S. Weather Bureau website. You can also look into the maximum rainfall intensity for the city you live in. This is the maximum amount of rain that occurs within a 5-minute span.
Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a standard length times width calculation for basic roofs. However, you have 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. Figuring out your roof-pitch factor will help to determine how much rainfall will be collected, regardless of the rainfall statistics.
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 forming on your roof. If it snows a lot in your state, you should seek professional guidance concerning the type of gutters that best prevent ice dams, which could really damage your home’s roof.
Of course, the final question is probably the most important …
HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?
You also need to ask yourself if you’re going to do the work on your own, or if you want to pay a professional to install your gutters. Professional installation will ensure maximum efficiency, compared to doing it yourself.
Most homeowners are better off paying a little extra for labor, to ensure that the installation will be done right. Another bonus of hiring Olympia Gutters & More! to install the new gutters is that we can help you answer all of your questions about new gutters so that you find the perfect style and type.