Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?

The number one thing to ask yourself when you are planning to install new gutters is, “Why?” This important 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 just three reasons homeowners will be in the market for new gutters:

An Upgrade – Switching out the gutters can really impact the curb appeal of your house, improving its look in a more subtle way than painting or landscaping.

A New Home – Designing a new home comes with a constant stream of choices about both appearance and functionality. Rain gutters are one of them. Choosing the first gutters that go on your home is important because they should last at least 15 years or more.

A Renovation – If your home’s roof has suffered 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, but the reason often has underlying motivations…

You want to sell your home.

You want to renovate without spending a lot of money.

Your landscaping is being ruined by ineffective gutters.

Figuring out your “Why” will often provide direction while you are shopping for new gutters. You’ll know if certain features are important 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 purchase new gutters.

HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?

The fun part about choosing new rain 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 options that hold up well in most scenarios, except in cold climates, where they will deteriorate. Vinyl and plastic gutters are sufficient in most regions of the country, and they are available in a wide range of colors.

METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS

These mid-priced options are both attractive and durable. Both of these materials are available in a wide range of colors as well. They are fairly lightweight and are not difficult to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) will fend off rust and corrosion even better.

COPPER & STAINLESS STEEL GUTTERS

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

WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?

Almost all of the gutter materials above will offer these options:

SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS

Sectional gutters – These types of rain gutters are made in smaller sections, so they are easier to install. In fact, most homeowners decide to install their own sectional gutters. This type is the less expensive choice, and they are made with more seams, which means there are more areas where leaks are going to occur.

Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters need to be installed by a professional contractor because they need specialized tools. They are more expensive to buy and install, but 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 great with almost any style of home. They’re 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. Many homeowners are proficient enough to install their own K-Style gutters.

Half-Round – Half-Round gutters are traditionally made of copper and steel, and they complement rounded roofs, popular prior to 1950, so they give homes a regal, established curb appeal. However, more modern styles made out of vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, being lightweight and highly functional. Half-Round rain gutters are 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 which gutters you can have. Like we mentioned, certain materials don’t 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 the gutters going to have to handle?

Professional gutter installers in Syracuse can take many factors into account to get a good idea of the size and the type of gutters that will work the best for your home.

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 can be found online on the National Weather Service or the U.S. Weather Bureau website. You should also look into 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 simple length times width calculation for standard roofs. However, you will 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 actually be collected, regardless of the average rainfall statistics.

DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?

Snowfall will be factored into average precipitation calculations, but you also want to be aware of the potential for ice dams. If it snows often 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 probably 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 enlist the services of a professional to install your gutters. Professional installation ensures maximum efficiency, versus doing it yourself.

Most homeowners are better off paying a little extra for professional labor, to ensure that the job will be done correctly. Another bonus of hiring Syracuse Gutter Solutions to install your 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.