Which Gutters Are Right For Your Home?

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

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

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

A New Home – Designing a home comes with a constant stream of decisions about 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 20 years.

A Renovation – If your home’s roof been damaged, the gutters might have to be replaced, too. Or, they might simply be getting too old and need to be replaced with new ones.

You will know why you are installing new rain 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 getting ruined by ineffective gutters.

Determining your “Why” will help to give you direction while you are shopping for new gutters. You’ll know what features are important or if you can go with a more affordable product.

Here are the major questions you’ll have when purchasing new gutters.

HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?

The fun part about purchasing 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 choices you will have, in order of cost:

VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS

Vinyl and plastic are economical options that hold up well in most scenarios, other than extremely cold climates, where they can wear down. Vinyl and plastic gutters are sufficient in most regions of the country, and they come in a wide range of colors.

METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS

These reasonably priced options are attractive and durable. Both of these materials come in a variety of colors too. They are fairly light and are easy 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 gutter materials available, copper and stainless steel are the most expensive, but the most eye-catching as well. Homeowners in Methuen who purchase these options are searching for an elegant touch, and that’s just what they’ll get!

WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?

Most 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’re easy to install. In fact, many homeowners choose to install their own sectional gutters on their own. This type is the more affordable choice, and they have more seams, which means more areas where leaks can occur.

Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters will need to be installed by a local contractor because they require specialized equipment. They are more expensive to order and 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 virtually any style of home. They are 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 capable enough to install their own K-Style gutters.

Half-Round – Half-Round gutters are usually made of copper and steel, and they recommended for rounded roofs, popular prior to 1950, so they give homes a regal, established appearance. However, more modern styles made out of vinyl and plastic provide the best of both worlds, because they are lightweight and highly functional. Half-Round rain gutters are much harder to install, but they are easier to clean out, when it’s time for gutter cleaning.

DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?

The climate of your region may dictate a lot about the gutters you should install. As we mentioned, certain materials will not hold up well in cold climates.

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

Professional gutter installers in Methuen will take a lot of factors into account to determine the size and type of rain gutters that are going to work best for your roof.

WHAT IS THE FORMULA?

Luckily, the formula professional 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 statistic can be found online on the National Weather Service or the U.S. Weather Bureau website. You should also check the maximum rainfall intensity for the city you live in. This is the maximum amount of rain that can happen within a 5-minute span.

Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a simple length times width calculation for basic roofs. But, you need to factor in all the surfaces of multi-faceted roofs.

Roof-Pitch Factor – A steep roof will collect more wind-blown rain than a roof that is less sloped. Figuring out your roof-pitch factor will help to calculate how much rainfall will actually be collected, regardless of the rainfall statistics found online.

DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?

Snowfall will be factored into average precipitation calculations, but you also want to consider the potential for ice dams. If it snows often in your city, you should 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 possibly the most important …

HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?

You also have to ask yourself if you’re going to try to do the work yourself, or if you want to hire a professional to install your new gutters. Professional installation will ensure 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. Another bonus of hiring NE Gutters to install your gutters is that we can help you answer all your questions about new gutters so that you find the perfect style and type for your home.