How To Choose the Right Gutters – Family Roofing

Posted on by David Reid

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How To Choose the Right Gutters

There is so much to consider when choosing new gutters, including shape, material, and cost.  But don’t overlook performance and quality, which will over time reward you with reduced maintenance and lasting beauty.

Gutters are a critical component of a home’s drainage system and like many exterior features, they’re subject to wear and damage.  Regular cleaning and maintenance will go a long way toward getting the maximum lifespan out of your gutters.

SIGNS YOU NEED NEW GUTTERS

If your gutters are showing signs of severe wear – cracks, holes, and leaks, for example – or if they’re sagging or pulling away from the house or have numerous missing, loose, or bent fasteners, it may be time to look into replacement.

Experts point out that water damage to the roof, fascia board, decking, or rafters is a sure sign that gutters are due for replacement.  Most ordinary gutters last about 10 to 15 years. Dangerous water leaks and overflows can cause tremendous damage to a home, sometimes before homeowners are even aware of the problem.

TYPES OF GUTTERS

There are many types and styles of gutters on the market today, with the primary materials being aluminum, copper, steel, galvanized steel, zinc, and vinyl.

  • Aluminum is the most prevalent gutter material and offers several advantages over other types.  Aluminum is lightweight, resistant to corrosion, and available in a wide range of colors—and it’s also often the least expensive option.

  • Galvanized steel gutters are coated with a layer of zinc and are quite strong but may be prone to rusting.

  • Steel gutters also are available with a coating of aluminum and zinc, which alleviates the rust problem but is more expensive.

  • Zinc gutters, yet another option, are also strong and durable, and normally do not require painting or finishing.

  • Copper gutters are an extremely upscale and attractive choice, but cost substantially more than other metals.

  • Vinyl is another inexpensive option. Though available in a wide range of colors to match many types of vinyl siding, vinyl gutters are not as durable as metal, however; they break down over time with exposure to sunlight and will therefore need to be replaced much more frequently.  Additionally, vinyl gutters typically come in 10-foot sections, and the rubber seals used to join the sections can become brittle and leak.

Most professionals note that aluminum gutters offer the best combination of style, durability, and price.  As far as replacement gutters go, you want seamless aluminum gutters with a minimum thickness of .025 inches.  There also are numerous options for ‘toppers’ for those gutters; the most common are solid hoods and filters. The different toppers each have their good and bad points.  The solid toppers are the best, because they use the reverse curve or liquid adhesion model, which works the best.  The downside to these types of covers is the installation process, which is generally handled by a subcontractor.  These products install under the shingles, which can cause problems with roof warranties.”

Anyone in the market for new gutters not only has to choose a material, but also has to select among a range of shapes, or profiles.

  • The most popular are K-style gutter. These have a shape similar to decorative crown molding.

  • Fascia gutters, another alternative, feature a smooth face that performs the same function as fascia boards, hiding the edges of the rafter tails from view.

  • Half-round gutters have an open construction with the open side facing the roof.  This style has fallen out of favor, because it easily clogs with debris and then overflows .

  • European-style gutter systems are typically half-round gutters made from materials that weather naturally, such as copper.

All gutters come in either sectional or seamless constructions.  Most do-it-yourself gutters are sold in 10-foot sections that must then be linked together with snap-in connectors.  The drawback to sectional systems is that the joints eventually leak.  Seamless gutters, on the other hand, have seams only at the corners.  Seamless gutters are typically made of metal and are extruded to custom lengths by professional installers using a portable gutter machine.