Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?

The number one thing to consider when you are purchasing new gutters is, “Why?” This question will help to answer many of the 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 gutters:

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

A New House – Building a home comes with a constant stream of choices about appearance and functionality. Gutters are no exception. Deciding on the gutters that go on your home is important because they will need to last approximately 20 years or more.

A Renovation – If your roof has suffered damage, the gutters may need to be replaced, too. Or, they could simply be wearing down and need to be replaced.

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

You want to sell your home.

You want to renovate but not spend a lot of money.

Your landscaping is getting damaged by ineffective gutters.

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

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

HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?

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

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

VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS

Vinyl and plastic are affordable options that are durable in most cases, except in extremely cold climates, where they can deteriorate. Vinyl and plastic gutters are sufficient in nearly every region of the country, and they come in a wide range of colors.

METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS

These reasonably priced materials are both stylish and durable. Both of these materials are available in a variety of colors too. They are fairly lightweight and are not difficult to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) resist rust and corrosion even better.

COPPER & STAINLESS STEEL GUTTERS

Of all the rain gutter materials, copper and stainless steel are the most expensive, but the most attractive as well. Homeowners in Mount Pleasant who decide on these materials are looking for an elegant touch, and that’s what they’ll get!

WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?

Almost all of the gutter options above will offer both of these options below:

SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS

Sectional gutters – These rain gutters come in smaller sections, so they are easier to install. In fact, many homeowners decide to install their own sectional gutters on their own. This type is the more affordable choice, and they have more seams, which means there are more areas where leaks are going to occur.

Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters need to be installed by a contractor because they require special equipment. They are more expensive to buy and to install, but less likely to leak than sectional gutters.

K-STYLE OR HALF-ROUND GUTTERS

K-Style – K-Style gutters are popular because they look excellent with almost any style of home. They’re better for angled roofs, which are more common. This one of the reasons for their popularity. And, they are easy to install. Many homeowners are capable 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 provide homes a regal, classic curb appeal. However, modern styles made from 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 much easier to clean, when it’s time for gutter cleaning.

DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?

The climate of the city you live in will dictate a lot about the gutters you should install. Like we mentioned, some types of materials don’t hold up well in extremely cold climates.

The most important climate factor to consider is how much work the gutters will need to do. In other words, how much water are your gutters going to have to withstand?

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

WHAT IS THE FORMULA?

Luckily, the formula professional home exterior 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 is available online on the National Weather Service or the U.S. Weather Bureau website. You should also find the maximum rainfall intensity for your area. This is the maximum amount of rain that occurs within a 5-minute span.

Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a simple length times width calculation for basic roofs. But, you will want 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 is going to help to determine how much rainfall will be collected, regardless of the rainfall statistics.

DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?

Snowfall is included in average precipitation calculations, but you definitely want to consider the potential for ice dams forming on your roof. If it snows regularly in your region, you need to seek professional guidance about the type of rain gutters that help to prevent ice dams from forming, which can really damage your 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 on your own, or if you want to enlist the services of a professional to install your gutters. Professional installation will ensure efficiency, compared to doing it yourself.

Most homeowners are better off paying a little extra for labor, to ensure that the job will be done right. Another bonus of hiring Mount Pleasant Gutters to install the gutters is that we can help you answer all of your questions about new gutters so that you are able to find the perfect style and type.