Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?

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

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

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

A New Home – Building a new home comes with a constant stream of choices about appearance and functionality. Gutters are no exception. Choosing the first gutters that go on your home is important because they should last at least 20 years or more.

A Renovation – If your roof is damaged, the gutters might have to be replaced. Or, they may just be deteriorating and need to be replaced.

You know why you are installing new gutters on your home, but the reason often has underlying motivations…

You want to sell your house.

You want to renovate without spending too much money.

Your landscaping is getting damaged by ineffective gutters.

Determining your “Why” will provide direction while you are shopping for new gutters. You’ll know if certain features are must-haves or if you can choose a more affordable product.

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

HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?

The best part about choosing new rain gutters is choosing the materials. Gutters will blend in or stand out against your home exterior, 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, besides cold climates, where they can become brittle. 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 materials come in a variety of colors as well. They are fairly lightweight and are easy to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) will 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 eye-catching as well. Homeowners in Hackensack who decide on these materials are looking for an elegant touch, and that’s just 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 types of rain gutters come in smaller sections, so they are easier to install. In fact, most homeowners choose to install their own sectional gutters on their own. This type is the more affordable choice, and they are made with more seams, which means more areas where leaks can occur.

Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters need to be installed by a professional contractor because they require specialized tools. They’re more expensive to order and install, but they are less likely to leak than sectional gutters.

K-STYLE OR HALF-ROUND GUTTERS

K-Style – K-Style gutters are popular because they look great with almost any style of home. They are better for angled roofs, which are 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 by themselves.

Half-Round – Half-Round gutters are traditionally made of copper and steel, and they recommended for rounded roofs, popular before 1950, so they give homes a regal, classic curb appeal. However, modern styles made out of vinyl and plastic offer the best of both worlds, because they are both lightweight and highly functional. Half-Round rain gutters are much harder to install, but easier to clean out, when the time comes for gutter cleaning.

DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?

The climate of your region may dictate a lot about what gutters you can have. Like we already mentioned, certain materials will not 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 the gutters going to have to withstand?

Professional gutter contractors in Hackensack will take a lot of factors into account to get a good idea of the size and the type of rain gutters that are going to work the best for your home.

WHAT IS THE FORMULA?

Luckily, the formula professional roofing 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 on the National Weather Service or the U.S. Weather Bureau website. You can 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 residential roofs. But, you want to figure all the surfaces of multi-faceted roofs.

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

DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?

Snowfall is going to be included in average precipitation calculations, but you definitely want to be aware of the potential for ice dams. If it snows regularly in your region, you need to seek professional guidance concerning the type of rain gutters that best prevent ice dams from forming, which can really damage your roof.

Of course, the last question is probably 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 enlist the services of a professional to install your gutters. Professional installation will ensure maximum efficiency, compared to doing it yourself.

Most homeowners should consider paying a little extra for professional labor, to ensure that the job will be done right. An added bonus of hiring Hometown Gutters to install the gutters is that we are able to help you answer all your questions about gutters so that you find the perfect style and type for your home.