What Types of Gutters Are There? – Family Roofing

Posted on by David Reid

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What Types of Gutters Are There?

Rain gutters, which run along the base of a roof, do more than keep downpours from drenching people as they come and go.  By channeling water out and away from your home’s foundation, rain gutters reduce the risks of a flooded basement or damaged siding and minimize erosion and harm to your landscaping.  What’s more, folks hoping to conserve water can direct runoff from gutters into a rain barrel to serve as a reservoir for the garden.  Although rain gutters are simple structures, they come in a variety of configurations and are typically manufactured from five different materials.

There are 3 main styles of gutters:  K-Style, Half-Round, and Box gutters.  Each of these styles are available in a variety of materials, such as Aluminum, Copper, Vinyl, and Galvanized Steel.  Lets’s take a look at each of these styles and what they are primarily used for.

K-STYLE RAIN GUTTERS

K-style rain gutters somewhat resemble the letter K when viewed from the side.  This is the most common type for homes built within the past 50 years, though many owners of older homes still install them today.  This type of gutter features a unique shape on the front edge that resembles modern home’s crown molding.  These gutters will compliment your homes look.

Thanks to the flat back of the K-style gutter, you can nail it directly to the fascia board; no brackets required.  But what really makes K-style gutters so popular is the typically decorative front side, which generally resembles crown molding.  Thanks to their flat bottoms and straight, outwardly angled sides, K-style gutters usually can carry more water than half-round gutters, so they’re especially suited to rainy climates.  Being flush against the wall ensures that water isn’t able to run down your wall.  The bends and folds in the metal provide a rigid structure, so these gutters will withstand more damage than a half-round.  On the downside, K-design gutters are a little harder to clean than half-round gutters, as the inner angles collect rotting debris.

The two most common sizes are 5″ and 6″, with 5″ being the industry standard and the 6″ would be for slightly higher volume of water.

Pro’s

  • Cheapest option available

  • Easiest to install

  • More durable than Half-Round (Rigid construction)

  • Performance (Can handle more water during heavy rain)

  • Modern look

Con’s

  • Clogs Easier

  • More prone to corrosion

HALF-ROUND GUTTER

These gutters feature a semicircular design and a curved lip.  Due to the rounded design, they feature round downspouts. Half-round gutters come in 5-inch and 6-inch widths.  Many homes built before 1960 feature this style, so these gutters work well if your home is historic or brick.  In fact, local ordinances may require you to have this type of gutter if your home is historic or in a historic neighborhood.

half round gutter

Half-Round gutters are more used in historic or older style homes.  Their name describes them perfectly, as they are half of a circular pipe with the top half open for water.  They are known to be more rustic, as they are usually made from copper which forms a patina over time. However, they also are available in Aluminum, Vinyl, or Galvanized Steel.  Just like the K-style, these are available in 5″ and 6″ sizes.

These gutters are installed a little differently than normal gutters.  First, brackets are installed to the home along the roof edge.  Once the brackets are in place, the Half-Round gutter is dropped into place and secured.  It should be noted that Copper gutters are much heavier than Aluminum gutters, so they need additional hardware to keep them secure to the home.

The half circle shape results in the inner part of the gutter being entirely smooth.  Being smooth on the inside does provide a few advantages.  First, the metal is less likely to corrode or rust because there is no where for it to pool up or stand still.  Secondly, since there are no creases or hardware on the inside, debris has a nice clear path and is less likely to get caught up on something and form a clog.

Pro’s

  • Rustic look

  • Easier to clean

  • Less likely to rust or corrode

  • Less likely to clog

Con’s

  • More expensive

  • Takes longer to install (Higher labor costs)

  • Not as efficient in heavy rains (Handles less water)

  • Less rigid/durable than K-Style (Easier to damage)

  • Heavier (pulls loose quicker over time)

BOX STYLE GUTTERS

box style gutter

The third most popular type of gutter that you’ll see around, is the Box Style gutter.  These are over-sized gutters that are primarily used for commercial or industrial buildings. They are designed to handle large amounts of water, from larger roofs. The bigger your roof is, the more water output.   Commercial or industrial buildings often feature box-style gutters, but a professional can tailor them to residential homes.  Box gutters are oversized and designed to handle heavy rainfall.  This gutter style comes in 7-inch and 8-inch widths, and some come as large as 10-inches wide.  Due to their size, you will need a larger roof to install them.

Also, unlike other gutters, box gutters are not hung on your roof’s edge.  Instead, they use a high back section that tucks under a roof’s shingles. Due to this, box gutters must be installed while your home is being built.  Therefore, they need to be installed when the building is being built.  This ensures that no water can get into the building along the roof edge. You can install these to an older building, but you would sill need to get the roof re-done with new shingles.

Box style gutters come standard in sizes 7″ and 8″, but you can even purchase larger sizes like 10″.

Gutter Materials

Gutters and Downspouts are all made from the same types of materials. Aluminum, Copper, Vinyl, and Galvanized Steel. K-Style and Half-Round are available in any material, while Box style is only available in Aluminum or Copper. We’ll go over some of the pro’s and con’s for each material.

Aluminum Gutters

Pro’s

  • Cheap

  • Light weight

  • Rust Resistant

  • Easiest to install

  • Available in many color options

Con’s

  • Prone to damage by extreme temperature fluctuations (can warp)

TYPES OF GUTTER MATERIALS

Copper Gutters

Pro’s

  • “Patina” look

  • Heavy Duty (thicker gauge than aluminum)

Con’s

  • Most expensive

  • Heavier so they come loose more often

Galvanized Steel Gutters

Pro’s

  • Strength (Can handle large amounts of weight)

Con’s

  • Very Heavy (Gutters come loose more often)

  • Expensive

  • Rust very easily

Vinyl Gutters

Pro’s

  • Cheap

  • Easy to install (for DIY people)

  • Waterproof

Con’s

  • Cheap material (bends easily)

CONCLUSION

All the types and styles of gutters provide the same basic function. Size of your home and roof are factors to determine what size you need. Do your own research to find the style and type of gutter that will best suite your needs and look the best on your home.