Which Gutters Are Right For Your Home?

The very first thing to ask yourself when you are shopping for new gutters is, “Why?” This question will help to answer the following questions you’ll have before making your selection.

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

An Upgrade – Installing new gutters can significantly affect the appearance of your house, improving its look in a more subtle way than painting or new landscaping.

A New Home – Building a new home comes with a lot of choices about appearance and functionality. Gutters are one of them. Choosing the gutters that go on your house is important because they should last at least 15 years or more.

A Renovation – If the roof on your home is damaged, the gutters might need to be replaced. Or, they could simply be getting too old and need to be replaced.

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

You want to sell your home.

You want to renovate without spending too much money.

Your landscaping is getting damaged by ineffective gutters.

Figuring out your “Why” will give you direction while you are shopping for new gutters. You’ll know which features are important or if you can choose a more affordable product.

Here are the questions you’ll want to consider when purchasing new gutters.

HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?

The fun part about choosing new rain gutters is picking out the materials. Gutters can blend in or stand out against your house, depending on your preference.

These are the choices you will have, in order of cost:

VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS

Vinyl and plastic are affordable options that are durable in most scenarios, except in cold climates, where they can become brittle. 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 reasonably 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 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 are the most expensive, but are the most eye-catching as well. Homeowners in Dearborn 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 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 have more seams, which means more areas where leaks are going to occur.

Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters need to be installed by a professional contractor because they require 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 almost any style of home. They’re better for angled roofs, which are more common. This one of the reasons for their popularity. In addition, they are easy to install. Many homeowners are capable enough to install their own K-Style gutters by themselves.

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

DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?

The climate of the city you live in may determine a lot about the gutters you can have. Like we already mentioned, some materials don’t hold up well in cold climates.

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

Professional gutter companies in Dearborn can take many factors into consideration to get a good idea of the size and type of gutters that are going to work the best for your roof.

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 is available 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 max amount of rain that will occur within a 5-minute span.

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

DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?

Snowfall is factored into average precipitation calculations, but you definitely want to consider the potential for ice dams forming on your roof. If it snows regularly in your region, you should seek professional guidance about the type of gutters that help to prevent ice dams, which can severely damage your home’s roof.

Of course, the final question is probably 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 pay a professional to install your gutters. Professional installation will ensure maximum efficiency, versus doing it yourself.

Most homeowners are better off paying a little extra for labor, knowing that the installation will be done correctly. Another bonus of hiring Dearborn Gutter Solutions to install the new gutters is that we will 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.