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 most of the questions you’ll have before making your final selection.

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

An Upgrade – Installing new gutters can really affect the exterior style of your house, enhancing its look in a more subtle way than painting or new landscaping.

A New Home – Designing a new home comes with a constant stream of decisions about both 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 15-20 years or more.

A Renovation – If the roof on your home is damaged, the gutters may need to be replaced, too. Or, they may simply be wearing down and need to be replaced with new ones.

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

You want to sell your house.

You want to renovate but not spend too much money.

Your landscaping is getting ruined by ineffective gutters.

Determining your “Why” will provide direction while you are shopping. You’ll know if certain features are worth spending money on or if you can choose a less expensive product.

Here are the major questions you’ll need to ask when purchasing new gutters.

HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?

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

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

VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS

Vinyl and plastic are economical choices that hold up well in most scenarios, other than cold climates, where they will deteriorate. Vinyl and plastic gutters are acceptable in nearly every region of the country, and they come in a wide range of colors.

METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS

These mid-priced options are attractive and durable. Both of these materials are available in a wide range of colors as well. They are fairly lightweight and not difficult 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 are the most expensive, but are the most attractive as well. Homeowners in Murfreesboro who purchase these options are searching for an elegant touch, and that’s 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 come 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 are made with more seams, which means more sections where leaks can occur.

Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters will need to be installed by a professional contractor because they require special tools. They are more expensive to buy and to 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 every style of home. They’re better for angled roofs, which are more common. This attributes to their popularity. Plus, they are easy to install. Many homeowners are capable enough to install their own K-Style gutters.

Half-Round – Half-Round gutters are traditionally made of copper and steel, and they are best for rounded roofs, popular before 1950, so they give homes a luxurious, classic appearance. However, more modern styles made from vinyl and plastic provide the best of both worlds, being lightweight and highly functional. Half-Round rain gutters are a lot 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 dictate a lot about the gutters you should purchase. Like we already mentioned, some types of materials will not hold up in extremely cold climates.

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

Professional gutter companies in Murfreesboro will take many factors into account to get a good idea of the size and type of rain gutters that are going to work best for your home.

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 statistic can be found online on the National Weather Service or the U.S. Weather Bureau website. You can also check 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 basic length times width calculation for standard roofs. However, you need 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. Determining your roof-pitch factor will help to calculate how much rainfall will actually be collected, regardless of the average 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 about the type of gutters that best prevent ice dams from forming, which might really damage your roof.

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

HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?

You also need 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, versus doing it yourself.

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