Which Gutters Are Right For Your Home?

The number one thing to consider when you are planning to install new gutters is, “Why?” This important question will help to answer most of the questions you’ll have before purchasing your final selection.

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

An Upgrade – Switching out the rain gutters can drastically affect the exterior style of your house, increasing its look in a subtler way than painting or new landscaping.

A New Home – Building a home comes with a constant stream of choices about both appearance and functionality. Gutters are no exception. Deciding on the first 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 might have to be replaced. Or, they may simply be aging and need to be replaced.

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

You want to sell your home.

You want to renovate without spending a lot of money.

Your landscaping is getting ruined by ineffective gutters.

Figuring out your “Why” will help to provide direction while you are shopping. You’ll know which features are important 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 gutters is choosing the materials. Gutters will 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 materials that hold up well in most scenarios, other than extremely cold climates, where they will wear down. Vinyl and plastic gutters are acceptable in most regions of the country, and they come in a wide range of colors.

METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS

These reasonably priced materials are both attractive and durable. Both of these materials come in a wide range of colors as well. They are fairly lightweight and are easy to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) resist rust and corrosion even better.

COPPER & STAINLESS STEEL GUTTERS

Of all the gutter materials available, copper and stainless steel are the most expensive, but are the most attractive as well. Homeowners in Buffalo Grove who decide on these options 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 these options:

SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS

Sectional gutters – These gutters come in smaller sections, so they are easy 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 sections where leaks can occur.

Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters should be installed by a professional contractor because they need special tools. They’re more expensive to order and to install, but they are less likely to leak 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 are better for angled roofs, which are more common. This attributes to their popularity. And, 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 complement rounded roofs, popular prior to 1950, so they provide homes a luxurious, classic appearance. However, modern styles made out of vinyl and plastic provide the best of both worlds, being both lightweight and functional. Half-Round rain gutters are harder to install, but they are 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 should install. Like we already mentioned, certain materials don’t hold up well in cold climates.

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

Professional gutter installers in Buffalo Grove can take several factors into consideration to determine the size and the type of rain gutters that will work the best for your home.

WHAT IS THE FORMULA?

Luckily, the formula professional roofing 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 look into the maximum rainfall intensity for the city you live in. This is the max amount of rain that can happen within a 5-minute span.

Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a standard length times width calculation for basic roofs. However, you 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. Figuring out your roof-pitch factor will help you calculate how much rainfall will be collected, regardless of the rainfall statistics.

DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?

Snowfall will be included in precipitation calculations, but you also want to be aware of the potential for ice dams. If it snows often in your region, you should seek professional guidance about the type of rain gutters that best prevent ice dams from forming, which might severely damage your home’s roof.

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

HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?

You also need to ask yourself if you’re willing to try to do the work yourself, or if you are going to pay a professional to install your gutters. Professional installation ensures efficiency, instead of doing it yourself.

Most homeowners are better off paying a little extra for professional labor, to ensure that the job will be done right. An added bonus of hiring Buffalo Grove Gutters to install your new gutters is that we can help you answer all of your questions about new gutters so that you find the best style and type for your home.