Purchasing new gutters doesn’t seem like a task that should be inherently difficult – you pick the ones that work. Frankly, there are far more considerations that should factor into your decision.
Without a proper gutter system in place, your home could suffer from severe water damage. On average, water damage costs $2,386 to repair while removing standing water costs an average of $2,688. Wind damage costs about $5,757 and can sometimes get up to $10,000 or more. Fire and smoke damage usually comes in at $4,172. So having the right systems in place can save you from a big bill later on.
Of course, not every decision is essential to the effectiveness of the gutters, like whether you should get white or a beige gutters. Here are some things to think about when looking at gutter installations.
What Kind of Material
If you thought gutters only came in aluminum then this is a good place to start. Gutters can typically come in galvanized or stainless steel, aluminum, vinyl, copper, or wood (if you can find and afford them). Aluminum tends to be the most popular choice for homeowners because it never rusts and is relatively inexpensive. However, it isn’t as strong as steel and won’t hold up as well against heavy branches and other debris. Vinyl doesn’t rot or rust and is typically easy to cut to size; however, it can get brittle with cold weather or age. You should factor in the climate in which you live as well as the type of home you have when considering what material to choose.
Sectional or Seamless
Many homeowners choose sectional gutters because they’re easy for DIY installations. The pieces all come in sections and can be attached piece by piece, including the downspouts and corner pieces. However, sectional gutters have potential for leaks at the seams of the sections — seamless do not. Seamless gutter benefits include custom gutters tailored exactly to your house. However, despite these seamless gutter benefits, they will need to be installed by a contractor.
Shapes and Sizes
Gutters come in a variety of shapes and sizes that you should look through to find the right combination for your home. These configurations are often called profiles and incorporate different aspects of both shape and size.
The biggest choice you will probably face is whether your get sectional or seamless gutters. Even though the other variables are important in deciding what type of gutter to get, you’ll want your gutters to perform as well as you hope.
Both sectional and seamless gutters can be professionally installed, but many choose to install sectionals on their own. Seamless gutter installation has to be done by a professional and therefore means that you’re getting expert work done that might even come with gutter repairs a warranty.
It’s important to find the right contractor for the job who can tell you more about seamless gutter benefits and what’s best for your home.
