Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?

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

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

An Upgrade – Switching out the gutters can really impact the curb appeal of your home, improving its look in a subtler way than painting or new landscaping.

A New House – Designing a new home comes with a constant stream of decisions about appearance and functionality. Rain gutters are one of them. Deciding on the gutters that go on your home 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 have to be replaced, too. Or, they may just be wearing down and need to be replaced.

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 too much money.

Your landscaping is getting damaged by ineffective gutters.

Determining your “Why” will give you direction while you are shopping for new gutters. You’ll know what features are important or if you can choose a more affordable product.

Here are the questions you’ll have when purchasing new gutters.

HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?

The fun part of choosing new gutters is picking out the style. Gutters can blend in or stand out against your house, depending on your personal preference.

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

VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS

Vinyl and plastic are affordable options that hold up well in most cases, except in cold climates, where they will wear down. Vinyl and plastic gutters are sufficient in nearly every region of the country, and they are available in a wide range of colors.

METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS

These mid-priced materials are both stylish and durable. Both 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) will fend off 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 Chattanooga 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 types above will offer these options:

SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS

Sectional gutters – These rain gutters come in smaller sections, so they’re easier 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 have more seams, which means more areas where leaks are going to occur.

Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters need to be installed by a contractor because they require special tools. 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 popular because they look great with every style of home. They are better for angled roofs, which are far more common. This one of the reasons for their popularity. In addition, 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 recommended for rounded roofs, popular before 1950, so they provide homes a regal, established curb appeal. However, more modern styles made out of vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, because they are lightweight and highly functional. Half-Round rain gutters are much harder to install, but they are easier to clean, when the time comes for gutter cleaning.

DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?

The climate of the city you live in will dictate a lot about the gutters you can have. As we mentioned, certain types of materials will not hold up in cold climates.

The most important climate factor to think about is how much work the gutters will need to do. Essentially, how much rain or water are the gutters going to have to withstand?

Professional gutter companies in Chattanooga are going to take several factors into account to get a good idea of the size and the type of gutters that will 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 check the maximum rainfall intensity for the city you live in. This is the max amount of rain that will occur within a 5-minute span.

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

DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?

Snowfall is 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 region, you should seek professional guidance about the type of rain gutters that help to prevent ice dams from forming, which might severely damage your roof.

Of course, the final 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 hire a professional to install your gutters. Professional installation ensures efficiency, compared to doing it yourself.

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