Which Gutters Are Right For Your Home?
The first thing to consider when you are planning to install new gutters is, “Why?” This question will help you answer the following questions you’ll have before making your selection.
In our experience as a local gutter service, here are three reasons homeowners might be in the market for new gutters:
An Upgrade – Installing new gutters can drastically impact the curb appeal of your house, increasing its look in a subtler way than painting or landscaping.
A New Home – Designing a new home comes with a constant stream of decisions 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 15 years or more.
A Renovation – If your roof been damaged, the gutters may 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 replacing the gutters on your home, but the reason typically has underlying motivations…
You want to sell your house.
You want to renovate without spending too much money.
Your landscaping is being ruined by ineffective gutters.
Determining your “Why” will help to give you direction while you are shopping. You’ll know what features are must-haves or if you can choose a less expensive product.
Here are the questions you’ll want to consider when it’s time to install new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The best part of choosing new rain gutters is choosing the style. Gutters can blend in or stand out against your home, depending on your preference.
These are the options you will have, in order of lowest to highest cost:
VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS
Vinyl and plastic are economical choices that are durable in most scenarios, besides cold climates, where they can deteriorate. Vinyl and plastic gutters are efficient in most regions of the country, and they are available in a wide range of colors.
METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS
These mid-priced options are stylish 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) withstand rust and corrosion even better.
COPPER & STAINLESS STEEL GUTTERS
Of all the rain gutter materials, copper and stainless steel are the most expensive, but are the most stylish as well. Homeowners in Oak Lawn 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 options above will offer these options:
SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS
Sectional gutters – These types of rain gutters come in smaller sections, so they’re easy to install. In fact, many homeowners decide to install their own sectional gutters on their own. This type is the less expensive choice, and they have 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 equipment. They are 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 excellent with every style of home. They are better for angled roofs, which are far more common. This attributes to their popularity. Plus, 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 traditionally made of copper and steel, and they are best for rounded roofs, popular before 1950, so they give homes a regal, established appearance. However, modern styles made from vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, because they are both lightweight and highly functional. Half-Round rain gutters are a lot harder to install, but they are easier to clean out, when it’s time for gutter cleaning.
DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?
The climate of your region will determine a lot about the gutters you should purchase. Like we already mentioned, certain materials will not hold up in extremely cold climates.
The most important climate factor is how much work the gutters will need to do. In other words, how much water are your gutters going to need to withstand?
Professional gutter companies in Oak Lawn will take many factors into consideration to get a good idea of the size and the type of gutters that will work the best for your roof.
WHAT IS THE FORMULA?
Luckily, the formula professional home exterior 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 online 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 maximum amount of rain that can happen within a 5-minute span.
Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a standard length times width calculation for standard roofs. However, you will need 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 will help to estimate how much rainfall will actually be collected, regardless of the rainfall statistics found online.
DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?
Snowfall is going to be factored into average precipitation calculations, but you also want to consider the potential for ice dams forming on your roof. If it snows often in your state, you should seek professional guidance about the type of rain gutters that help to prevent ice dams from forming, which might severely damage your roof.
Of course, the final question is probably the most important …
HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?
You also need to ask yourself if you’re willing to try 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, versus doing it yourself.
Most homeowners should consider paying a little extra for professional labor, knowing that the job will be done right. An added bonus of hiring Oak Lawn Gutters to install your gutters is that we will help you answer all your questions about new gutters so that you find the best style and type.