Which Gutters Are Right For Your Home?
The very first thing to consider when you are purchasing new gutters is, “Why?” This pivotal question will help you answer most of the following questions you’ll have before purchasing your selection.
In our experience as a local gutter service, here are just three reasons homeowners might be shopping for new gutters:
An Upgrade – Installing new rain gutters can really impact the exterior style of your home, enhancing its look in a more subtle way than painting or landscaping.
A New Home – Building a home comes with a lot of of choices about appearance and functionality. Rain gutters are one of them. Deciding on the first gutters that go on your home is important because they will need to last approximately 20 years.
A Renovation – If your roof has experienced damage, the gutters may need to be replaced, too. Or, they might simply be aging and need to be replaced.
You will know why you are replacing the gutters on your home, 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 help to provide direction while you are shopping for new gutters. You’ll know what features are must-haves or if you can choose a more affordable product.
Here are the questions you’ll have when it’s time to install new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The fun part of choosing new gutters is choosing the style. Gutters can blend in or stand out against your house, depending on your personal preference.
These are the options for materials, in order of cost:
VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS
Vinyl and plastic are economical options that hold up well in most scenarios, except in cold climates, where they can deteriorate. Vinyl and plastic gutters are efficient in nearly every region of the country, and they are available in a wide range of colors.
METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS
These mid-priced materials are stylish and durable. Both of these materials are available in a variety of colors as well. They are fairly light and are easy to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) withstand 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 attractive as well. Homeowners in Arvada who decide on 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 materials 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, many homeowners decide to install their own sectional gutters. This type is the more affordable choice, and they are made with more seams, which means there are more areas where leaks are going to occur.
Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters should be installed by a professional contractor because they need special equipment. They are more expensive to purchase 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 far more popular because they look excellent with every style of home. They are better for angled roofs, which are far more common. This one of the reasons for their popularity. In addition, they are not hard to install. Most homeowners are capable enough to install their own K-Style gutters.
Half-Round – Half-Round gutters are traditionally made of copper and steel, and they recommended for rounded roofs, popular prior to 1950, so they give homes a luxurious, established appearance. However, modern styles made from vinyl and plastic provide the best of both worlds, because they are lightweight and highly functional. Half-Round rain 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 install. As we mentioned, some types of materials will not hold up in cold climates.
The 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 need to withstand?
Professional gutter installers in Arvada will take many factors into account 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 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 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 simple length times width calculation for residential roofs. However, you need 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. Determining your roof-pitch factor is going to help to determine how much rainfall will actually be collected, regardless of the rainfall statistics found online.
DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?
Snowfall is factored into precipitation calculations, but you definitely want to consider the potential for ice dams. If it snows regularly in your city, you need to seek professional guidance concerning the type of gutters that help to prevent ice dams, which can severely damage your roof.
Of course, the last question is possibly 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 are going to enlist the services of a professional to install your gutters. Professional installation ensures maximum efficiency, compared to doing it yourself.
Most homeowners are better off paying a little extra for labor, to ensure that the job will be done right. Another bonus of hiring PRO Arvada Gutters to install the new gutters is that we are able to help you answer all of your questions about new gutters so that you are able to find the perfect style and type for your home.