Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?
The first thing to consider when you are shopping for new gutters is, “Why?” This important question will help to answer the questions you’ll have before purchasing your selection.
In our experience as a local gutter service, here are just three reasons homeowners might be shopping for new gutters:
An Upgrade – Switching out the gutters can really impact the appearance of your house, increasing its look in a subtler way than painting or new landscaping.
A New Home – Designing a home comes with a constant stream of choices about both appearance and functionality. Rain gutters are one of them. Choosing the gutters that go on your house is important because they will need to last approximately 15 years.
A Renovation – If the roof on your home has experienced damage, the gutters might have to be replaced. Or, they could just be getting too old and need to be replaced.
You know why you are installing new gutters on your home, but the reason typically has underlying motivations…
You want to sell your home.
You want to renovate but not spend a lot of money.
Your landscaping is getting ruined by ineffective gutters.
Figuring out your “Why” will give you direction while you are shopping for new gutters. You’ll know if certain features are must-haves or if you can choose a less expensive product.
Here are the major questions you’ll want to consider when it’s time to purchase new gutters.
HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?
The fun part about purchasing new gutters is picking out the materials. Gutters can blend in or stand out against your house, 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 are durable in most scenarios, other than extremely 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 mid-priced materials are stylish and durable. Both of these materials are available in a variety of colors too. They are fairly lightweight and not hard to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) fend off rust and corrosion even better.
COPPER & STAINLESS STEEL GUTTERS
Of all the gutter materials, copper and stainless steel are the most expensive, but are the most attractive as well. Homeowners in Eagan who purchase these options are looking for an elegant touch, and that’s 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 gutters come in smaller sections, so they are easier to install. In fact, homeowners choose to install their own sectional gutters. This type is the less expensive choice, and they are made with more seams, which means there are more areas where leaks can occur.
Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters should be installed by a contractor because they require special equipment. They are more expensive to buy 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 far more popular because they look excellent with every style of home. They are better for angled roofs, which are far more common. This one of the reasons for their popularity. Plus, they are not hard to install. Most 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 recommended for rounded roofs, popular prior to 1950, so they give homes a regal, classic curb appeal. However, more modern styles made from vinyl and plastic provide the best of both worlds, because they are lightweight and highly functional. Half-Round rain gutters are a lot harder to install, but much easier to clean, when the time comes for gutter cleaning.
DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?
The climate of your region will dictate a lot about the gutters you can have. Like we already mentioned, certain types of materials don’t hold up 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 need to handle?
Professional gutter companies in Eagan can take several factors into account to determine the size and type of gutters that are going to work best for your roof.
WHAT IS THE FORMULA?
Luckily, the formula professional home exterior 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 weather 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 your area. This is the maximum amount of rain that can happen within a 5-minute span.
Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a simple length times width calculation for standard roofs. However, you will have 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 less sloped roof. Determining your roof-pitch factor is going to help to determine how much rainfall will actually be collected, regardless of the average rainfall statistics.
DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?
Snowfall is included in precipitation calculations, but you also want to be aware of the potential for ice dams forming on your roof. If it snows a lot in your state, you need to seek professional guidance concerning the type of gutters that help to prevent ice dams from forming, which might severely damage your roof.
Of course, the last question is possibly 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, 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 Eagan Gutter Experts to install the new gutters is that we will help you answer all your questions about gutters so that you find the perfect style and type for your home.