Which Gutters Are Right For Your Home?

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

In our experience as a local gutter service, here are only three reasons homeowners will be in the market for new gutters:

An Upgrade – Installing new rain gutters can significantly affect the curb appeal of your home, enhancing its look in a more subtle way than painting or landscaping.

A New House – Building a home comes with a lot of of choices about both appearance and functionality. Rain gutters are one of them. Deciding on the 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 may have to be replaced. Or, they might just be getting too old and need to be replaced with new ones.

You will know why you are replacing the gutters, but the reason typically has underlying motivations…

You want to sell your home.

You want to renovate but not spend a lot of money.

Your landscaping is getting damaged by ineffective gutters.

Determining 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 more affordable product.

Here are the questions you’ll need to ask when purchasing new gutters.

HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?

The best part about installing new rain gutters is choosing the style. Gutters can blend in or stand out against your home, depending on your personal preference.

These are the options for materials, in order of cost:

VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS

Vinyl and plastic are affordable options that hold up well in most scenarios, other than extremely cold climates, where they will become brittle. Vinyl and plastic gutters are acceptable in most regions of the country, and they come in a wide variety of colors.

METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS

These reasonably priced options are stylish and durable. Both of these materials come 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) are able to resist rust and corrosion even better.

COPPER & STAINLESS STEEL GUTTERS

Of all the rain gutter materials, copper and stainless steel are the most expensive, but the most attractive as well. Homeowners in Johns Creek who decide on these materials 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 rain gutters come in smaller sections, so they’re easier to install. In fact, homeowners decide 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 are more expensive to buy 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 excellent with every style of home. They are better for angled roofs, which are far more common. This one of the reasons for their popularity. And, they are not hard 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, classic appearance. However, modern styles made from vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, because they are lightweight and functional. Half-Round gutters are harder to install, but much easier to clean, when the time comes for gutter cleaning.

DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?

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

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

Professional gutter companies in Johns Creek are going to take a lot of factors into consideration to determine the size and type of gutters that will work 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 can be found on the National Weather Service or the U.S. Weather Bureau website. You should also look into the maximum rainfall intensity for your area. This is the max amount of rain that occurs within a 5-minute span.

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

DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?

Snowfall will be included in average precipitation calculations, but you also want to be aware of the potential for ice dams forming on your roof. If it snows a lot in your city, you need to seek professional guidance about the type of rain gutters that help to prevent ice dams, which could really damage your home’s roof.

Of course, the last question is possibly the most important …

HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?

You also have to ask yourself if you’re willing to do the work yourself, or if you want to pay a professional to install your new gutters. Professional installation ensures efficiency, versus doing it yourself.

Most homeowners are better off paying a little extra for professional labor, knowing that the job will be done correctly. Another bonus of hiring Johns Creek Gutter Service to install your new gutters is that we can help you answer all your questions about gutters so that you are able to find the perfect style and type.