Which Gutters Are Right For Your Home?

The first thing to ask yourself when you are shopping for new gutters is, “Why?” This question will help to answer the following questions you’ll have before purchasing your selection.

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

An Upgrade – Switching out the gutters can drastically affect the exterior style of your home, enhancing its look in a subtler way than painting or new landscaping.

A New Home – Building a new home comes with a lot of of choices about appearance and functionality. Rain gutters are no exception. Deciding on the first gutters that go on your home is important because they will need to last at least 15 years.

A Renovation – If the roof on your home has suffered damage, the gutters may need to be replaced, too. Or, they could simply be deteriorating and need to be replaced with new ones.

You know why you are installing new rain gutters on your home, 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 give you direction while you are shopping for new gutters. You’ll know what features are must-haves or if you can go with a more affordable product.

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

HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?

The fun part of purchasing new gutters is picking out the style. Gutters will blend in or stand out against your house, depending on your preference.

These are the choices you will have, in order of cost:

VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS

Vinyl and plastic are economical materials that hold up well in most scenarios, besides cold climates, where they can become brittle. Vinyl and plastic gutters are efficient in most regions of the country, and they come in a wide range of colors.

METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS

These reasonably priced materials are attractive and durable. Both of these materials come in a wide range of colors too. They are fairly light and are easy to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) resist rust and corrosion even better.

COPPER & STAINLESS STEEL GUTTERS

Of all the gutter materials, copper and stainless steel cost the most, but are the most stylish as well. Homeowners in Kansas City who decide on these options are looking for an elegant touch, and that’s just what they’ll get!

WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?

Almost all of the gutter materials above will offer 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, homeowners choose to install their own sectional gutters on their own. This type is the more affordable choice, and they have more seams, which means more sections where leaks are going to occur.

Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters should be installed by a professional contractor because they need special equipment. They’re 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 popular because they look great with every 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 luxurious, established appearance. 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 out, when the time comes for gutter cleaning.

DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?

The climate of the city you live in may dictate a lot about the gutters you can have. Like we mentioned, certain types of materials will not hold up in cold climates.

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

Professional gutter contractors in Kansas City are going to take many factors into account to get a good idea of the size and the type of gutters that are going to work 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 can be found 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 can happen within a 5-minute span.

Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a basic length times width calculation for basic roofs. But, you have to figure all the surfaces of multi-faceted roofs.

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

DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?

Snowfall is included in precipitation calculations, but you also want to consider the potential for ice dams forming on your roof. If it snows a lot in your state, you should seek professional guidance concerning the type of gutters that help to prevent ice dams from forming, which might 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 willing to try to do the work on your own, or if you want to hire a professional to install your new gutters. Professional installation ensures maximum efficiency, instead of doing it yourself.

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