Which Gutters Are Right For Your Home?

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

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

An Upgrade – Installing new gutters can significantly affect the curb appeal of your house, improving its look in a more subtle way than painting or landscaping.

A New Home – Designing a new home comes with a constant stream of decisions about appearance and functionality. Gutters are no exception. Deciding on the first gutters that go on your home is important because they will need to last approximately 15 years.

A Renovation – If the roof on your home has experienced damage, the gutters may need to be replaced, too. Or, they could just be getting too old and need to be replaced with new ones.

You will know why you are replacing the rain gutters on your home, but the reason typically has underlying motivations…

You want to sell your home.

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

Your landscaping is being ruined by ineffective gutters.

Determining your “Why” will provide direction while you are shopping. You’ll know what features are worth spending money on or if you can choose a less expensive product.

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

HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?

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

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

VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS

Vinyl and plastic are affordable materials that hold up well in most cases, except in extremely cold climates, where they will deteriorate. Vinyl and plastic gutters are efficient in almost every region of the country, and they come in a wide range of colors.

METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS

These reasonably priced materials are 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) fend off rust and corrosion even better.

COPPER & STAINLESS STEEL GUTTERS

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

WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?

Most of the gutter materials above will offer both of these options below:

SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS

Sectional gutters – These types of gutters are made in smaller sections, so they are easy to install. In fact, most homeowners choose to install their own sectional gutters. This type is the less expensive choice, and they have more seams, which means there are more areas where leaks can occur.

Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters should be installed by a contractor because they require specialized equipment. They are more expensive to buy and to 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 far more popular because they look excellent with every style of home. They are better for angled roofs, which are far more common. This one of the reasons for their popularity. Plus, they are not hard to install. Most homeowners are proficient enough to install their own K-Style gutters by themselves.

Half-Round – Half-Round gutters are traditionally made of copper and steel, and they complement rounded roofs, popular prior to 1950, so they give homes a luxurious, classic curb appeal. However, modern styles made out of vinyl and plastic provide the best of both worlds, being lightweight and highly functional. Half-Round rain gutters are harder to install, but easier to clean, when it’s time for gutter cleaning.

DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?

The climate of the city you live in will determine a lot about what gutters you should purchase. As we mentioned, certain types of materials don’t hold up well in extremely cold climates.

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

Professional gutter companies in Lafayette are going to take several factors into account to determine the size and type of gutters that will work best for your home.

WHAT IS THE FORMULA?

Luckily, the formula professional 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 can be found 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 can happen within a 5-minute span.

Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a simple length times width calculation for standard roofs. However, you will have 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. Determining your roof-pitch factor is going to help you determine how much rainfall will be collected, regardless of the rainfall statistics found online.

DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?

Snowfall is going to be included in precipitation calculations, but you also want to be aware of the potential for ice dams. If it snows often in your state, you should seek professional guidance concerning the type of rain gutters that best prevent ice dams, which could really damage your 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 on your own, or if you want to enlist the services of a professional to install your gutters. Professional installation ensures maximum efficiency, versus doing it yourself.

Most homeowners should consider paying a little extra for professional labor, knowing that the job will be done correctly. Another bonus of hiring Lafayette Gutters Unlimited to install the new gutters is that we will help you answer all your questions about new gutters so that you are able to find the best style and type.