Which Gutters Are Right For Your Home?

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

In our experience as a local gutter service, here are just three reasons homeowners will be shopping for new rain gutters:

An Upgrade – Installing new rain gutters can really impact the appearance of your home, increasing its look in a more subtle way than painting or landscaping.

A New Home – Designing a new home comes with a lot of of decisions about both appearance and functionality. Rain gutters are one of them. Deciding on the gutters that go on your house is important because they will need to last approximately 15-20 years or more.

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

You know why you are replacing the 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 ruined by ineffective gutters.

Determining your “Why” will help to provide direction while you are shopping for new gutters. You’ll know which features are worth spending your money on or if you can go with a less expensive product.

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

HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?

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

These are the options for materials, in order of cost:

VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS

Vinyl and plastic are economical options that are durable in most scenarios, besides cold climates, where they will wear down. Vinyl and plastic gutters are efficient in nearly every region of the country, and they come in a wide variety of colors.

METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS

These mid-priced materials are both stylish and durable. Both materials are available in a variety of colors as well. They are fairly light and easy to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) will withstand rust and corrosion even better.

COPPER & STAINLESS STEEL GUTTERS

Of all the gutter materials, copper and stainless steel cost the most, but are the most stylish as well. Homeowners in Denver who choose these materials are searching for an elegant touch, and that’s just what they’ll get!

WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?

Almost all of the gutter options 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, most homeowners decide 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 there are more sections where leaks are going to occur.

Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters should be installed by a contractor because they require specialized tools. They’re more expensive to order and to install, but they are 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 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 not hard to install. Many homeowners are proficient 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 provide homes a luxurious, established curb appeal. However, more modern styles made out of vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, being lightweight and functional. Half-Round rain gutters are much 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 dictate a lot about which gutters you should purchase. 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 your gutters going to need to withstand?

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

WHAT IS THE FORMULA?

Luckily, the formula professional home exterior 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 check the maximum rainfall intensity for the city you live in. 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 need to factor in all the surfaces of multi-faceted roofs.

Roof-Pitch Factor – A steep roof will collect more wind-blown rain than a less sloped roof. Determining your roof-pitch factor is going to help you calculate how much rainfall will be collected, regardless of the average rainfall statistics found online.

DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?

Snowfall is going to be factored into 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 city, you need to seek professional guidance concerning the type of gutters that help to prevent ice dams, which can really damage your home’s roof.

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

HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?

You also need to ask yourself if you’re willing to do the work yourself, or if you are going to hire a professional to install your new gutters. Professional installation will ensure maximum efficiency, instead of doing it yourself.

Most homeowners should consider paying a little extra for professional labor, knowing that the installation will be done correctly. Another bonus of hiring Denver Gutters Plus to install the new gutters is that we can help you answer all your questions about gutters so that you are able to find the perfect style and type.