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Square vs round gutters: Which is better?
Gutters are a critical part of every home, ensuring that water is properly drained from the roof to the ground. When searching for new units, it can be difficult to select the correct model that fits your requirements and budget. There are two types of gutters available today: square and round. Surprisingly, all gutters are not built alike and have many different characteristics.
Why Choose Half-Round Gutters for Your Home?
Gutters come in many different profiles and materials, each with their own distinct advantages. It’s important to do your homework before jumping into a gutter replacement project, so you can ensure you choose the best product for your needs and preferences.
Square gutters: Advantages & disadvantages
As suggested by their name, square gutters have a square shape that provides a modern profile suitable for all building types and architecture. Square gutter units are available in two different models: lo-square and hi-square. Lo-square gutters are 110 mm in height, and hi-square gutters are 130 mm in height. Hi-square versions typically cover the edges of most roof sheets and tiles in order to improve their appearance. Lo-square units are neater in appearance than hi-square gutters, and they’re more economical.
Both versions of square gutters offer high water capacities that can easily manage large volumes of water. If you live in a particularly wet and rainy area, then this is a good option for you. Unfortunately, in lighter rainfall areas, square gutters easily clog over time. However, these clogs can be mitigated by adding a gutter guard to break up the fine debris.
Square gutters can be purchased in a variety of colors to match the exterior décor of your residence. Square gutters are extremely durable and will last many years with proper maintenance. There are many accessories that can be added to square gutters, including: gutter mitres, fixing brackets, stop ends, and gutter guards.
K-style gutters are the most popular gutter profile among homeowners today. They resemble interior molding, giving homes a sophisticated aesthetic. They are flat on the side that attaches to the home, allowing them to be installed directly onto the fascia. K-style gutters require fewer brackets and accessories than other types of gutters, which makes them quicker and easier to install. They provide a lovely complement to the angular roof designs that have become more common over the last century.
Historic homes that were built before the 1950s often have more rounded features. When remodeling, owners of historic homes usually want to revive the original look of their homes while taking advantage of modern features to enhance the energy efficiency and weather protection of the home. K-style gutters are typically not the best choice for these kinds of homes; half-round gutters tend to be the better option.
Round gutters: Advantages & disadvantages
Commonly referred to as “half-round gutters,” when viewed from an angle, these units have the appearance of a circle that’s been split in half. Half-round gutters can be built to have a straight back, or created in a semi-circle. This type is excellent for Spanish, Tuscan, and modern homes due to their clean look and smooth geometry that matches the architecture.
In addition to being aesthetically-pleasing, half round gutters deliver superior water carrying abilities as a result of their larger diameter. Also, they require less maintenance due to their smooth, rounded shape. Therefore, there is fewer chance that debris will block the flow of water. Additionally, these units are much better at naturally flushing out debris during light rain than square gutters.
Half round gutters are available in many different colors. They are extremely durable and offer a large number of accessories, including: stop ends, internal and external gutter brackets, and external corners.
About Half-Round Gutters
Half-round gutters resemble a tube that has been cut in half. These gutters have a symmetrical U-shape that complements older, historic homes. However, the rounded shape can also be a good match for modern homes that are designed to be less angular than the norm. Half-round gutters don’t have a flat side, which makes the installation a little trickier than K-style gutters.
Benefits of Half-Round Gutters
The inside of a half-round gutter is smoother than the inside of a K-style gutter. This improves the gutters’ durability and prevents the metal from corroding over time. The smooth surface doesn’t have as many creases for water to collect in. The smooth insides of half-round gutters are also more effective at washing debris out of the gutters. As the top installer of seamless gutters and heated gutter systems, we find that half-round gutters are easier to keep clean.
Half-round gutters also require less maintenance than K-style gutters. They do not leak as often as other gutter profiles, particularly if you install seamless half-round gutters. Half-round gutters can work very well when installed together with a gutter protection system. In general, we recommend half-round gutters for homeowners who live in historic homes and for homeowners who are worried about heavy rainfall and snow.
Choosing the Right Kind of Gutters for Your Home
An inch of rainfall that falls on an average-size roof equals 1900 gallons of water flowing into your gutters. As the leading installer of gutters and retractable awnings, we recommend carefully weighing your options before choosing your new gutters. You’ll not only have to think about the right gutter profile for your home, but you’ll also have to choose the right gutter material for your needs. Different gutter materials have different advantages and disadvantages.
Aluminum Gutters
Aluminum is one of the most popular gutter materials, combining durability and reliability with affordability. Aluminum is not prone to rusting, unlike ordinary steel. Aluminum gutters also come in a wide variety of colors, making it easy to find a solution that complements the other components of your home’s exterior.
Vinyl Gutters
Vinyl is very affordable, but it comes with significant downsides. Vinyl gutters are not a good choice for areas that experience strong winds, heavy snowfall and torrential rain. They’re also not a good choice for areas that receive a lot of sunlight. As an experienced installer of gutters and awnings, we can help you figure out if vinyl is the right choice for your project.
Steel Gutters
Steel gutters are usually galvanized to prevent rusting. This protection generally lasts for about 20 years. Steel gutters cost more than aluminum gutters, but they are a lot more durable. Steel gutters tend to be the best choice for homeowners that live in climates with extreme weather events.
Copper Gutters
Copper gutters are incredibly popular among homeowners who prioritize aesthetics, as they feature a high-end, classic beauty. Unlike other gutter materials, copper gutters actually grow more beautiful over time. They develop a patina that some homeowners find really appealing. If you don’t like the look of a patina, you can clean your gutters regularly to prevent it from developing. Copper gutters aren’t just beautiful. They are also durable and can perform well in almost any climate. Copper gutters are a premium gutter option. Copper gutters look great on most architectural styles.
