Which Gutters Are Right For Your Home?
The number one thing to consider when you are planning to install new gutters is, “Why?” This question will help you answer most of the questions you’ll have before purchasing your selection.
In our experience as a local gutter service, here are three reasons homeowners will be shopping for new gutters:
An Upgrade – Switching out the rain gutters can really impact the exterior style of your house, enhancing its look in a more subtle way than painting or new landscaping.
A New House – Designing a home comes with a lot of of decisions about both appearance and functionality. Rain gutters included. Deciding on the gutters that go on your home is important because they should last approximately 20 years.
A Renovation – If your home’s roof is damaged, the gutters might need to be replaced. Or, they may simply be deteriorating 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 too much money.
Your landscaping is getting ruined by ineffective gutters.
Figuring out your “Why” will provide direction while you are shopping for new gutters. You’ll know what features are worth spending money on or if you can go with a less expensive product.
Here are the questions you’ll have when it’s time to install new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The best part of choosing new gutters is choosing the materials. Gutters will blend in or stand out against your house, depending on your preference.
These are the choices for materials, in order of lowest to highest cost:
VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS
Vinyl and plastic are economical materials that are durable in most cases, besides extremely cold climates, where they can deteriorate. Vinyl and plastic gutters are sufficient in almost every region of the country, and they are available in a wide variety of colors.
METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS
These reasonably priced materials are both attractive and durable. Both of these materials come in a wide range of colors as well. They are fairly light and easy to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) will withstand rust and corrosion even better.
COPPER & STAINLESS STEEL GUTTERS
Of all the gutter materials, copper and stainless steel are the most expensive, but the most eye-catching as well. Homeowners in Wichita 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 types above offer both of these options below:
SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS
Sectional gutters – These types of rain gutters come in smaller sections, so they’re easier to install. In fact, most homeowners choose to install their own sectional gutters on their own. This type is the more affordable choice, and they have more seams, which means more sections where leaks can occur.
Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters need to be installed by a local contractor because they need special equipment. They are more expensive to buy and to 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 popular because they look excellent with virtually any style of home. They are better for angled roofs, which are more common. This attributes to their popularity. And, 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 recommended for rounded roofs, popular prior to 1950, so they provide homes a regal, established curb appeal. However, modern styles made from vinyl and plastic provide the best of both worlds, being lightweight and highly functional. Half-Round gutters are a lot harder to install, but much easier to clean out, when the time comes for gutter cleaning.
DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?
The climate of the city you live in may dictate a lot about what gutters you should purchase. Like we mentioned, certain materials will not hold up in extremely cold climates.
The single most important climate factor is how much work the gutters will have to do. In other words, how much water are your gutters going to have to handle?
Professional gutter installers in Wichita can take several factors into consideration to get a good idea of the size and the type of rain 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 weather statistic can be found on the National Weather Service or the U.S. Weather Bureau website. You can also find the maximum rainfall intensity for the city you live in. This is the maximum amount of rain that will occur within a 5-minute span.
Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a basic length times width calculation for basic roofs. However, you need 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 roof that is less sloped. 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 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 city, you need to seek professional guidance concerning the type of gutters that help to prevent ice dams from forming, which might severely damage your home’s roof.
Of course, the last question is arguably the most important …
HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?
You also have to ask yourself if you’re going to try 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 should consider paying a little extra for professional labor, to ensure that the job will be done correctly. Another bonus of hiring WeClean Wichita Gutters to install the gutters is that we can help you answer all of your questions about gutters so that you are able to find the perfect style and type for your home.