Which Gutters Are Right For Your Home?

The very first thing to consider when you are planning to install new gutters is, “Why?” This important question will help you answer the questions you’ll have before making your ultimate selection.

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

An Upgrade – Switching out the rain gutters can really affect the appearance of your home, improving its look in a subtler way than painting or landscaping.

A New House – Designing a new home comes with a constant stream of choices about appearance and functionality. Rain gutters included. Deciding on the first gutters that go on your home is important because they should last at least 15 years.

A Renovation – If the roof on your home has suffered damage, the gutters might have to be replaced. Or, they might just be getting too old and need to be replaced with new ones.

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

You want to sell your home.

You want to renovate but not spend too much money.

Your landscaping is being damaged by ineffective gutters.

Figuring out your “Why” will give you direction while you are shopping for new gutters. You’ll know if certain features are worth spending money on or if you can go with a less expensive product.

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

HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?

The fun part about choosing new 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 cases, besides extremely cold climates, where they will deteriorate. Vinyl and plastic gutters are acceptable in nearly every region of the country, and they are available in a wide variety of colors.

METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS

These reasonably priced options are stylish and durable. Both of these materials are available in a variety of colors as well. They are fairly lightweight and not difficult to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) will resist rust and corrosion even better.

COPPER & STAINLESS STEEL GUTTERS

Of all the rain gutter materials, copper and stainless steel cost the most, but are the most stylish as well. Homeowners in Haverhill who decide on these options are searching for an elegant touch, and that’s exactly what they’ll get!

WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?

Almost all of the gutter types above offer both of these options below:

SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS

Sectional gutters – These types of gutters are made 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 are made with more seams, which means more sections where leaks can occur.

Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters will need to be installed by a contractor because they require special tools. They’re more expensive to order and 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 far more popular because they look excellent with every style of home. They’re better for angled roofs, which are more common. This attributes to their popularity. And, they are easy to install. Many 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 prior to 1950, so they provide homes a regal, classic curb appeal. However, more modern styles made out of vinyl and plastic provide the best of both worlds, because they are both lightweight and functional. Half-Round gutters are a lot harder to install, but easier to clean, when it’s time for gutter cleaning.

DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?

The climate of your region may determine a lot about which gutters you should install. Like we mentioned, certain types of materials will not hold up in extremely cold climates.

The 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 withstand?

Professional gutter installers in Haverhill will take several factors into account to determine the size and type of rain gutters that are going to work the best for your house.

WHAT IS THE FORMULA?

Luckily, the formula professional 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 statistic can be found 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 max amount of rain that will occur within a 5-minute span.

Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a basic length times width calculation for residential roofs. But, 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 less sloped roof. Knowing your roof-pitch factor is going to help to estimate how much rainfall will be collected, regardless of the average rainfall statistics.

DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?

Snowfall will be included in precipitation calculations, but you also want to consider the potential for ice dams. If it snows a lot in your region, you need to 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 possibly the most important …

HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?

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

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