Which Gutters Are Right For Your Home?

The first thing to consider when you are shopping for new gutters is, “Why?” This pivotal question will help to answer the subsequent questions you’ll have before purchasing your final selection.

In our experience as a local gutter service, here are three reasons homeowners might be shopping for new gutters:

An Upgrade – Switching out the rain gutters can significantly impact the appearance of your house, enhancing its look in a more subtle way than painting or new landscaping.

A New Home – Designing a new home comes with a constant stream of choices about both appearance and functionality. Rain gutters are no exception. Choosing the first gutters that go on your home is important because they should last approximately 15-20 years or more.

A Renovation – If the roof on your home been damaged, the gutters might have to be replaced. Or, they may simply be wearing down and need to be replaced.

You know why you are replacing the rain gutters on your home, but the reason typically has underlying motivations…

You want to sell your home.

You want to renovate without spending a lot of money.

Your landscaping is being damaged by ineffective gutters.

Figuring out your “Why” will often provide direction while you are shopping for new gutters. You’ll know what features are important or if you can choose a more affordable product.

Here are the major questions you’ll have when it’s time to install new gutters.

HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?

The best part of purchasing new gutters is choosing the materials. Gutters will blend in or stand out against your home exterior, depending on your personal preference.

These are the options you will have, in order of lowest to highest cost:

VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS

Vinyl and plastic are affordable choices that hold up well in most cases, other than cold climates, where they will wear down. 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 are 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 are the most attractive as well. Homeowners in Naperville who choose these options are looking for an elegant touch, and that’s just what they’ll get!

WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?

Most of the gutter options above offer both of these options below:

SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS

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

Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters should be installed by a local contractor because they need specialized equipment. They’re more expensive to order and to 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 great with almost any style of home. They’re better for angled roofs, which are more common. This one of the reasons for their popularity. Plus, they are easy to install. Many homeowners are capable enough to install their own K-Style gutters by themselves.

Half-Round – Half-Round gutters are traditionally made of copper and steel, and they complement rounded roofs, popular before 1950, so they give homes a luxurious, classic appearance. However, modern styles made out of vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, because they are both lightweight and functional. Half-Round gutters are much harder to install, but much easier to clean out, when it’s time for gutter cleaning.

DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?

The climate of the city you live in may determine a lot about what gutters you should purchase. As we already mentioned, certain types of materials don’t hold up well in cold climates.

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

Professional gutter contractors in Naperville are going to take many factors into consideration to get a good idea of the size and the type of gutters that are going to work the best for your house.

WHAT IS THE FORMULA?

Luckily, the formula professional roofing 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 is available 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 standard length times width calculation for basic roofs. However, you will 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 less sloped roof. Figuring out your roof-pitch factor will help you estimate how much rainfall will actually be collected, regardless of the average rainfall statistics found online.

DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?

Snowfall is factored into average precipitation calculations, but you also want to be aware of the potential for ice dams. If it snows a lot in your region, you should seek professional guidance about the type of rain gutters that best prevent ice dams from forming, which might severely damage your home’s roof.

Of course, the final question is arguably the most important …

HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?

You also need to ask yourself if you’re willing to do the work yourself, or if you are going to pay a professional to install your gutters. Professional installation will ensure efficiency, instead of doing it yourself.

Most homeowners are better off paying a little extra for professional labor, knowing that the installation will be done right. Another bonus of hiring Naperville Gutters to install your gutters is that we are able to help you answer all your questions about gutters so that you are able to find the perfect style and type for your home.