Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?

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

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

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

A New House – Building a home comes with a constant stream of decisions about both appearance and functionality. Rain gutters included. Choosing the first 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 have to be replaced, too. Or, they could just be deteriorating and need to be replaced with new ones.

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

You want to sell your house.

You want to renovate without spending a lot of money.

Your landscaping is getting damaged by ineffective gutters.

Figuring out your “Why” will often provide direction while you are shopping for new gutters. You’ll know if certain features are important or if you can go with a more affordable product.

Here are the questions you’ll want to consider when purchasing new gutters.

HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?

The best part of choosing new gutters is choosing the materials. Gutters can blend in or stand out against your home exterior, depending on your preference.

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

VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS

Vinyl and plastic are affordable materials that are durable in most cases, besides extremely cold climates, where they will wear down. Vinyl and plastic gutters are acceptable in most regions of the country, and they are available in a wide variety of colors.

METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS

These mid-priced options are both attractive and durable. Both materials are available in a variety of colors too. They are fairly light and are not difficult to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) are able to 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 Nashville who decide on these options are looking for an elegant touch, and that’s what they’ll get!

WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?

Most of the gutter materials above offer these options:

SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS

Sectional gutters – These gutters are made in smaller sections, so they are easier to install. In fact, many homeowners decide to install their own sectional gutters. 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 should be installed by a professional contractor because they require specialized equipment. They are more expensive to buy and 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 popular because they look great with every style of home. They’re better for angled roofs, which are far more common. This one of the reasons for their popularity. In addition, they are easy to install. Many homeowners are proficient enough to install their own K-Style gutters by themselves.

Half-Round – Half-Round gutters are usually made of copper and steel, and they recommended for rounded roofs, popular prior to 1950, so they give homes a luxurious, classic appearance. However, modern styles made from vinyl and plastic provide the best of both worlds, because they are lightweight and functional. Half-Round 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 may determine a lot about which gutters you should install. Like we mentioned, some materials will not hold up in cold climates.

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

Professional gutter contractors in Nashville will take a lot of factors into account to get a good idea of the size and type of gutters that will work the best for your roof.

WHAT IS THE FORMULA?

Luckily, the formula professional 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 weather statistic is available online on the National Weather Service or the U.S. Weather Bureau website. You can also look into 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 basic length times width calculation for standard roofs. However, you have 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 will help to determine how much rainfall will be collected, regardless of the rainfall statistics found online.

DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?

Snowfall is included in average precipitation calculations, but you definitely want to consider the potential for ice dams. If it snows often in your region, you should seek professional guidance about the type of gutters that best prevent ice dams from forming, which can really damage your home’s roof.

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

HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?

You also have to ask yourself if you’re going to do the work on your own, or if you are going to pay a professional to install your gutters. Professional installation will ensure efficiency, compared to doing it yourself.

Most homeowners should consider paying a little extra for professional labor, to ensure that the installation will be done right. An added bonus of hiring Nashville Gutter Solutions to install your 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 for your home.