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 question will help you answer the subsequent questions you’ll have before purchasing your ultimate selection.

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

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

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

A Renovation – If the roof on your home been damaged, the gutters might 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 on your home, but the reason typically has underlying motivations…

You want to sell your home.

You want to renovate but not spend too much money.

Your landscaping is being damaged by ineffective gutters.

Figuring out your “Why” will help to provide direction while you are shopping. You’ll know if certain features are important or if you can choose a more affordable product.

Here are the questions you’ll have when it’s time to purchase new gutters.

HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?

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

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

VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS

Vinyl and plastic are economical materials that hold up well in most cases, besides cold climates, where they can deteriorate. 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 materials are stylish and durable. Both of these materials are available in a wide range of colors too. They are fairly light and are easy to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) fend off rust and corrosion even better.

COPPER & STAINLESS STEEL GUTTERS

Of all the rain gutter materials available, copper and stainless steel are the most expensive, but the most attractive as well. Homeowners in Boston who choose these materials are looking for an elegant touch, and that’s exactly what they’ll get!

WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?

Most of the gutter types above offer both of these options below:

SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS

Sectional gutters – These rain gutters come in smaller sections, so they’re easier 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 specialized equipment. They are more expensive to order and to install, but less likely to leak or wear down than sectional gutters.

K-STYLE OR HALF-ROUND GUTTERS

K-Style – K-Style gutters are popular because they look great with virtually any style of home. They’re 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. Most 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 are recommended for rounded roofs, popular before 1950, so they give 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 both lightweight and functional. Half-Round rain gutters are much harder to install, but they are easier to clean out, 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 can have. Like we already mentioned, certain types of materials will not hold up in cold climates.

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

Professional gutter companies in Boston can take many factors into account to determine the size and type of gutters that will work best for your home.

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 can be found online 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 maximum amount of rain that will occur within a 5-minute span.

Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a basic length times width calculation for standard roofs. However, you will want to factor in 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 is going to help you determine how much rainfall will actually be collected, regardless of the rainfall statistics.

DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?

Snowfall is factored into precipitation calculations, but you also want to be aware of the potential for ice dams. If it snows a lot in your region, you need to seek professional guidance about the type of gutters that help to prevent ice dams from forming, which might really damage your roof.

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

HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?

You also have to ask yourself if you’re willing to try to do the work on your own, or if you want to hire a professional to install your gutters. Professional installation ensures efficiency, instead of doing it yourself.

Most homeowners should consider paying a little extra for professional labor, to ensure that the job will be done right. Another bonus of hiring Better Boston Gutters to install the gutters is that we will help you answer all your questions about gutters so that you are able to find the best style and type for your home.