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 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 shopping for new gutters:

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

A New House – Building a new home comes with a constant stream of choices about appearance and functionality. Rain gutters are no exception. Deciding on the gutters that go on your home is important because they will need to last approximately 15 years.

A Renovation – If your roof has had damage, the gutters might need to be replaced, too. Or, they could simply be getting too old and need to be replaced.

You will know why you are installing new gutters, but the reason often 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.

Figuring out your “Why” will provide direction while you are shopping for new gutters. You’ll know which features are important or if you can go with a less expensive product.

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

HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?

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

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

VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS

Vinyl and plastic are affordable materials that hold up well in most scenarios, besides extremely cold climates, where they can 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 materials are both attractive and durable. Both materials are available in a variety of colors as well. 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 rain gutter materials, copper and stainless steel cost the most, but are the most stylish as well. Homeowners in Redwood City who choose these materials are looking 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 both of these options below:

SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS

Sectional gutters – These gutters are made in smaller sections, so they’re easy to install. In fact, most homeowners choose to install their own sectional gutters on their own. This type is the less expensive choice, and they are made with more seams, which means more areas where leaks are going to occur.

Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters should be installed by a professional contractor because they need specialized equipment. They’re more expensive to purchase and to 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 every style of home. They are better for angled roofs, which are more common. This speaks to their popularity. And, they are not hard to install. Most homeowners are capable enough to install their own K-Style gutters by themselves.

Half-Round – Half-Round gutters are usually made of copper and steel, and they complement rounded roofs, popular prior to 1950, so they give homes a regal, established appearance. However, modern styles made out of vinyl and plastic provide the best of both worlds, because they are both lightweight and functional. Half-Round gutters are much harder to install, but much easier to clean out, 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 purchase. Like we already mentioned, some materials don’t hold up in cold climates.

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

Professional gutter companies in Redwood City can take several factors into account to determine the size and type of rain gutters that will work the best for your roof.

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 statistic is available online on the National Weather Service or the U.S. Weather Bureau website. You can also find the maximum rainfall intensity for the city you live in. This is the maximum amount of rain that occurs within a 5-minute span.

Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a simple length times width calculation for standard 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 will be factored into precipitation calculations, but you definitely want to consider the potential for ice dams forming on your roof. If it snows a lot in your city, you need to seek professional guidance concerning the type of rain gutters that help to prevent ice dams, which can severely damage your roof.

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

HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?

You also have to ask yourself if you’re willing to do the work on your own, or if you are going to pay a professional to install your new gutters. Professional installation will ensure maximum efficiency, compared to doing it yourself.

Most homeowners are better off paying a little extra for labor, to ensure that the installation will be done correctly. An added bonus of hiring Redwood City Gutters & More! to install your gutters is that we are able to help you answer all your questions about gutters so that you are able to find the best style and type for your home.