Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?

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

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

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

A New House – Building a home comes with a lot of of choices about appearance and functionality. Gutters are one of them. Deciding on the first gutters that go on your home is important because they will need to last approximately 15-20 years.

A Renovation – If your roof has experienced damage, the gutters may need to be replaced. Or, they might just be aging and need to be replaced.

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

You want to sell your house.

You want to renovate but not spend too much money.

Your landscaping is being damaged by ineffective gutters.

Figuring out your “Why” will help to provide direction while you are shopping for new gutters. You’ll know which features are important or if you can choose a less expensive product.

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

HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?

The best part about purchasing new rain gutters is choosing the style. Gutters will blend in or stand out against your house, 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 options that are durable in most cases, other than cold climates, where they can wear down. Vinyl and plastic gutters are acceptable in most regions of the country, and they are available in a wide range of colors.

METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS

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

COPPER & STAINLESS STEEL GUTTERS

Of all the gutter materials available, copper and stainless steel cost the most, but the most attractive as well. Homeowners in Sammamish who choose these materials are searching for an elegant touch, and that’s exactly what they’ll get!

WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?

Almost all of the gutter types above offer these options:

SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS

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

Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters should be installed by a local contractor because they require special tools. They are more expensive to purchase 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 every style of home. They’re better for angled roofs, which are more common. This attributes to their popularity. In addition, 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 usually made of copper and steel, and they recommended for rounded roofs, popular prior to 1950, so they provide homes a regal, established curb appeal. However, more modern styles made from vinyl and plastic provide the best of both worlds, being both lightweight and highly functional. Half-Round rain gutters are much harder to install, but easier to clean, when it’s time for gutter cleaning.

DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?

The climate of your region will dictate a lot about which gutters you should install. Like we already mentioned, certain materials don’t hold up in cold climates.

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

Professional gutter companies in Sammamish will take many 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 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 find the maximum rainfall intensity for your area. This is the maximum amount of rain that will occur within a 5-minute span.

Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a basic length times width calculation for basic roofs. But, you will have 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 less sloped roof. Knowing your roof-pitch factor will help to calculate how much rainfall will be collected, regardless of the rainfall statistics found online.

DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?

Snowfall is factored into 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 gutters that best prevent ice dams from forming, which could 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 going to do the work yourself, or if you are going to pay a professional to install your new gutters. Professional installation will ensure maximum efficiency, instead of doing it yourself.

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