Which Gutters are Right for Your Home?

The first thing to ask yourself when you are planning to install new gutters is, “Why?” This pivotal question will help to answer many of the subsequent questions you’ll have before making your ultimate selection.

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

An Upgrade – Switching out the rain gutters can really impact the appearance of your house, improving its look in a subtler way than painting or new landscaping.

A New House – Designing a home comes with a constant stream of choices about appearance and functionality. Rain gutters are no exception. Choosing the gutters that go on your house is important because they should last approximately 15-20 years.

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

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

You want to sell your home.

You want to renovate but not spend too much money.

Your landscaping is getting ruined by ineffective gutters.

Determining your “Why” will give you direction while you are shopping for new gutters. You’ll know what features are important or if you can choose a less expensive product.

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

HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?

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

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

VINYL & PLASTIC GUTTERS

Vinyl and plastic are affordable options that are durable in most scenarios, other than cold climates, where they can wear down. Vinyl and plastic gutters are efficient in almost every region of the country, and they are available in a wide variety of colors.

METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS

These mid-priced materials are stylish and durable. Both of these materials are available in a wide range of colors too. They are fairly light and are easy to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) withstand rust and corrosion even better.

COPPER & STAINLESS STEEL GUTTERS

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

WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?

Most of the gutter types above will offer these options:

SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS

Sectional gutters – These types of gutters come in smaller sections, so they’re easier to install. In fact, most 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 more areas where leaks can occur.

Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters need to be installed by a local contractor because they need special tools. They’re more expensive to purchase and install, but they are less likely to leak than sectional gutters.

K-STYLE OR HALF-ROUND GUTTERS

K-Style – K-Style gutters are far more popular because they look great 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 are best for rounded roofs, popular prior to 1950, so they provide homes a luxurious, classic curb appeal. However, more modern styles made from vinyl and plastic provide the best of both worlds, because they are both lightweight and functional. Half-Round gutters are much 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 dictate a lot about which gutters you can have. Like we already mentioned, some materials will not hold up well in cold climates.

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

Professional gutter companies in Jacksonville are going to take a lot of factors into consideration to determine the size and type of rain gutters that are going to work the best for your house.

WHAT IS THE FORMULA?

Luckily, the formula professional 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 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 occurs within a 5-minute span.

Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a standard length times width calculation for standard roofs. However, you will want 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 roof that is less sloped. Knowing your roof-pitch factor will help you determine how much rainfall will actually be collected, regardless of the rainfall statistics found online.

DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?

Snowfall will be included in average precipitation calculations, but you definitely want to be aware of the potential for ice dams forming on your roof. If it snows regularly in your city, you should seek professional guidance concerning the type of gutters that best prevent ice dams, which might really damage your roof.

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

HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?

You also need to ask yourself if you’re going to try 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, versus doing it yourself.

Most homeowners should consider paying a little extra for professional labor, knowing that the installation will be done right. Another bonus of hiring Jacksonville Gutter Service to install the gutters is that we are able to help you answer all your questions about new gutters so that you are able to find the perfect style and type for your home.