Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?

The number one thing to consider when you are planning to install new gutters is, “Why?” This pivotal question will help to answer most of the following questions you’ll have before purchasing your final selection.

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

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

A New House – Designing a home comes with a constant stream of choices about appearance and functionality. Rain gutters included. Deciding on the gutters that go on your house is important because they will need to last at least 20 years.

A Renovation – If the roof on your home been damaged, the gutters may have to be replaced. Or, they may just be deteriorating and need to be replaced with new ones.

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

You want to sell your home.

You want to renovate without spending too much money.

Your landscaping is getting ruined by ineffective gutters.

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

Here are the major questions you’ll have when purchasing new gutters.

HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?

The fun part about purchasing new rain gutters is picking out the materials. Gutters can blend in or stand out against your home, depending on your personal preference.

These are the options you will have, in order of lowest to highest cost:

VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS

Vinyl and plastic are affordable choices that are durable in most scenarios, other than cold climates, where they will deteriorate. Vinyl and plastic gutters are sufficient in almost every region of the country, and they come in a wide range of colors.

METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS

These mid-priced options are both attractive and durable. Both of these materials are available in a wide range of colors too. They are fairly light and easy to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) are able to 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 Corvallis who purchase 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 materials above will offer these options:

SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS

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

Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters should be installed by a contractor because they need special equipment. They’re more expensive to order 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 great with every style of home. They are better for angled roofs, which are more common. This speaks to their popularity. And, 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 complement rounded roofs, popular before 1950, so they give homes a luxurious, established appearance. However, more modern styles made from vinyl and plastic provide the best of both worlds, being lightweight and functional. Half-Round rain gutters are much harder to install, but easier to clean out, 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 can have. Like we already mentioned, some types of materials don’t hold up well in cold climates.

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

Professional gutter installers in Corvallis will take many factors into account to get a good idea of the size and the type of gutters that will work 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 statistic is available online on the National Weather Service or the U.S. Weather Bureau website. You should also check the maximum rainfall intensity for the city you live in. This is the max amount of rain that can happen within a 5-minute span.

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

DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?

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

Of course, the last question is probably the most important …

HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?

You also have to ask yourself if you’re going to do the work on your own, or if you are going to pay a professional to install your new gutters. Professional installation ensures maximum efficiency, compared to doing it yourself.

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