Which Gutters Are Right For Your Home?

The number one thing to consider when you are shopping for new gutters is, “Why?” This important question will help to answer most of the subsequent questions you’ll have before making your final 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 impact the appearance of your home, increasing its look in a subtler way than painting or landscaping.

A New House – Designing a home comes with a lot of of choices about appearance and functionality. Gutters are one of them. Choosing the first gutters that go on your house is important because they should last at least 15 years.

A Renovation – If the roof on your home is damaged, the gutters might have 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 installing new gutters on your home, but the reason typically has underlying motivations…

You want to sell your home.

You want to renovate without spending a lot of money.

Your landscaping is getting damaged by ineffective gutters.

Figuring out your “Why” will provide direction while you are shopping for new gutters. You’ll know if certain features are must-haves or if you can go with a more affordable product.

Here are the major questions you’ll need to ask when purchasing new gutters.

HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?

The fun part of installing new gutters is picking out the style. Gutters can blend in or stand out against your home exterior, depending on your 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 hold up well in most cases, besides cold climates, where they can deteriorate. Vinyl and plastic gutters are sufficient in almost every region of the country, and they are available in a wide variety of colors.

METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS

These mid-priced options are both attractive and durable. Both of these materials come in a variety of colors as well. 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 available, copper and stainless steel cost the most, but are the most stylish as well. Homeowners in Bossier City who purchase these options are searching for an elegant touch, and that’s exactly what they’ll get!

WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?

Most of the gutter options above offer these options below:

SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS

Sectional gutters – These types of rain gutters are made in smaller sections, so they are easy to install. In fact, most homeowners decide to install their own sectional gutters on their own. 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 need to be installed by a professional contractor because they require special tools. They are more expensive to order and install, but they are less likely to leak than sectional gutters.

K-STYLE OR HALF-ROUND GUTTERS

K-Style – K-Style gutters are popular because they look great with virtually any style of home. They are better for angled roofs, which are more common. This one of the reasons for their popularity. In addition, they are easy to install. Most homeowners are capable enough to install their own K-Style gutters by themselves.

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

DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?

The climate of your region will dictate a lot about what gutters you should install. Like we already mentioned, some materials will not hold up well in extremely cold climates.

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

Professional gutter contractors in Bossier City can take several factors into consideration to get a good idea of the size and the 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 online on the National Weather Service or the U.S. Weather Bureau website. You can also find the maximum rainfall intensity for the city you live in. This is the maximum amount of rain that will occur within a 5-minute span.

Roof Square Footage – Square footage is a simple length times width calculation for standard roofs. But, you want 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. Knowing your roof-pitch factor will help you estimate how much rainfall will actually be collected, regardless of the average rainfall statistics.

DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?

Snowfall will be included in precipitation calculations, but you definitely want to be aware of the potential for ice dams forming on your roof. If it snows a lot in your state, you should seek professional guidance about 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 arguably the most important …

HOW TO INSTALL GUTTERS?

You also have to ask yourself if you’re going to try to do the work yourself, or if you are going to hire a professional to install your gutters. Professional installation will ensure efficiency, instead of doing it yourself.

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