Which Gutters Are Right For Your Home?

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

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

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

A New House – Building a home comes with a constant stream of choices about appearance and functionality. Rain gutters are no exception. Deciding on the first gutters that go on your home is important because they should last at least 15-20 years or more.

A Renovation – If your home’s roof has had damage, the gutters might have to be replaced, too. Or, they could simply be wearing down and need to be replaced.

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

You want to sell your house.

You want to renovate without spending a lot of money.

Your landscaping is getting damaged by ineffective gutters.

Determining your “Why” will often provide direction while you are shopping. You’ll know what features are worth spending your money on or if you can go with a less expensive 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 choosing new rain gutters is picking out the style. Gutters will blend in or stand out against your home exterior, depending on your personal preference.

These are the choices for materials, in order of lowest to highest cost:

VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS

Vinyl and plastic are affordable choices that are durable in most scenarios, other than cold climates, where they can deteriorate. Vinyl and plastic gutters are efficient in most regions of the country, and they are available in a wide range of colors.

METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS

These reasonably priced options are attractive and durable. Both materials are available in a variety of colors too. They are fairly lightweight and are easy to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) withstand rust and corrosion even better.

COPPER & STAINLESS STEEL GUTTERS

Of all the gutter materials available, copper and stainless steel cost the most, but are the most stylish as well. Homeowners in Stockton 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 options above offer both of these options:

SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS

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

Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters should be installed by a professional contractor because they need special equipment. They’re more expensive to buy and to install, but they are 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 every style of home. They’re better for angled roofs, which are far more common. This one of the reasons for their popularity. And, they are easy 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 prior to 1950, so they provide homes a regal, established curb appeal. However, more modern styles made out of vinyl and plastic provide the best of both worlds, because they are lightweight and functional. Half-Round gutters are harder to install, but easier to clean, when the time comes for gutter cleaning.

DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?

The climate of the region you live in will determine a lot about what gutters you should install. Like we mentioned, certain materials don’t hold up in extremely cold climates.

The single most important climate factor is how much work the gutters will need to do. In other words, how much water are the gutters going to need to withstand?

Professional gutter companies in Stockton are going to take several factors into account to get a good idea of the size and type of gutters that are going to work 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 is available online on the National Weather Service or the U.S. Weather Bureau website. You can also check 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 standard length times width calculation for basic roofs. But, you will need 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. Figuring out your roof-pitch factor will help to determine how much rainfall will actually be collected, regardless of the rainfall statistics.

DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?

Snowfall will be factored into precipitation calculations, but you also want to be aware of the potential for ice dams forming on your roof. If it snows often in your region, you should seek professional guidance about the type of gutters that help to prevent ice dams from forming, which could 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 want to hire a professional to install your new gutters. Professional installation ensures efficiency, versus 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 Stockton Gutter Specialists to install your new gutters is that we will help you answer all of your questions about gutters so that you are able to find the perfect style and type.