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 many of the following questions you’ll have before making your final selection.

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

An Upgrade – Switching out the rain gutters can drastically affect the exterior style of your house, improving its look in a more subtle way than painting or new landscaping.

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

A Renovation – If the roof on your home has suffered damage, the gutters might have to be replaced, too. Or, they might simply be wearing down and need to be replaced.

You will know why you are replacing the gutters on your home, but the reason typically 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 help to give you direction while you are shopping. You’ll know what features are important or if you can choose a less expensive product.

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

HOW TO CHOOSE GUTTER MATERIALS?

The best part about choosing new rain gutters is choosing the style. Gutters will blend in or stand out against your house, 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 materials that hold up well in most cases, besides cold climates, where they will become brittle. Vinyl and plastic gutters are sufficient in most regions of the country, and they are available in a wide variety of colors.

METAL & ALUMINUM GUTTERS

These reasonably priced materials are both stylish and durable. Both materials come in a wide range of colors too. They are fairly light and not hard to install. Galvanized metals (coated with zinc to protect them) fend off rust and corrosion even better.

COPPER & STAINLESS STEEL GUTTERS

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

WHAT ARE IMPORTANT GUTTER FEATURES?

Almost all of the gutter options above will offer these options below:

SECTIONAL OR SEAMLESS GUTTERS

Sectional gutters – These types of rain gutters are made in smaller sections, so they’re easier to install. In fact, most homeowners decide to install their own sectional gutters. This type is the less expensive choice, and they are made with more seams, which means more sections where leaks can occur.

Seamless gutters – Seamless gutters should be installed by a contractor because they require special tools. They are more expensive to buy and to install, but 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 excellent 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. Most homeowners are proficient 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, 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 rain gutters are harder to install, but much easier to clean, when it’s time for gutter cleaning.

DOES CLIMATE AFFECT GUTTERS?

The climate of the region you live in will dictate a lot about which gutters you should install. Like we mentioned, some materials will not hold up in extremely cold climates.

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

Professional gutter installers in Beaverton are going to take many factors into account to determine the size and the type of gutters that are going to work the best for your roof.

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 max amount of rain that will occur within a 5-minute span.

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

DOES IT SNOW WHERE YOU LIVE?

Snowfall will be factored into average precipitation calculations, but you also want to consider the potential for ice dams. If it snows often in your region, you should seek professional guidance concerning the type of gutters that help to prevent ice dams, which might really damage your roof.

Of course, the last 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 pay a professional to install your gutters. Professional installation will ensure efficiency, compared to doing it yourself.

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