Which Gutters Are Right For Your Home?

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

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

An Upgrade – Installing new rain gutters can drastically impact the curb appeal of your house, enhancing its look in a more subtle way than painting or landscaping.

A New House – Designing a new home comes with a lot of choices about appearance and functionality. Gutters are no exception. Choosing the gutters that go on your home is important because they will need to last approximately 20 years or more.

A Renovation – If your roof been damaged, the gutters may need to be replaced. Or, they could simply be aging and need to be replaced with new ones.

You know why you are replacing the rain gutters, but the reason usually has underlying motivations…

You want to sell your home.

You want to renovate but not spend a lot of money.

Your landscaping is being damaged by ineffective gutters.

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

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

HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?

The best part about purchasing new gutters is picking out the style. Gutters can blend in or stand out against your house, depending on your preference.

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

VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS

Vinyl and plastic are affordable choices that hold up well in most scenarios, except in cold climates, where they will wear down. Vinyl and plastic gutters are efficient in most regions of the country, and they come in a wide variety of colors.

METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS

These mid-priced materials are both attractive and durable. Both of these materials come in a variety of colors too. They are fairly lightweight and not hard to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) are able to resist rust and corrosion even better.

COPPER & STAINLESS STEEL GUTTERS

Of all the rain gutter materials available, copper and stainless steel cost the most, but the most eye-catching as well. Homeowners in Detroit  who purchase 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 types above offer both of these options below:

SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS

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

Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters will need to be installed by a professional contractor because they need special tools. 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 great with every style of home. They’re better for angled roofs, which are far more common. This attributes to their popularity. Plus, they are easy 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 best for rounded roofs, popular before 1950, so they give homes a regal, established curb appeal. However, modern styles made out of vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, being both lightweight and highly functional. Half-Round rain gutters are harder to install, but they are easier to clean, when it’s time for gutter cleaning.

DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?

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

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

Professional gutter companies in Detroit will take several factors into consideration to get a good idea of the size and the type of gutters that are going to work the best for your house.

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 should also look into the maximum rainfall intensity for your area. This is the maximum amount of rain that occurs within a 5-minute span.

Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a standard length times width calculation for standard roofs. But, you want to figure 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. Knowing your roof-pitch factor will help to calculate how much rainfall will actually be collected, regardless of the average rainfall statistics found online.

DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?

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

Of course, the last question is arguably 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 enlist the services of a professional to install your new gutters. Professional installation ensures efficiency, compared to doing it yourself.

Most homeowners should consider paying a little extra for professional labor, knowing that the job will be done right. An added bonus of hiring Detroit Gutter Defense to install your gutters is that we will help you answer all your questions about gutters so that you are able to find the perfect style and type.