Your home’s gutter system performs the important job of directing rainwater that falls on your roof away from your home to prevent water damage. When the gutters malfunction, rainwater can gradually damage the roof, the foundation, and the exterior walls of your home.
New Gutter System – Toledo, OH – Seagate Roofing and Foundation Services
Is it time to replace your home gutters? You have many replacement gutter system options. Read on to learn three tips for choosing a new gutter system that best suits your needs and the needs of your home.
SELECT THE RIGHT GUTTER MATERIAL
Gutters are available in four materials: aluminum, steel, copper, and vinyl. Each material has its unique benefits:
- Aluminum: These gutters are durable, rustproof, inexpensive, and have an expected lifespan of about 20 years. However, aluminum gutters are not compatible with some algae-resistant shingles or copper flashing; aluminum corrodes when it comes into contact with copper.
- Steel: These gutters are less rust-resistant than aluminum gutters, yet they are less likely to crack when temperatures fluctuate. This makes them a good option in areas of the country prone to extreme temperature changes. This gutter material has a lifespan of about 20 to 25 years and is mostly used on commercial buildings.
- Vinyl: These gutters are economical, but they are not as durable or resistant to cracking as their metal counterparts. (not recommended at all).
- Copper: These gutters are attractive, corrosion-resistant, and extremely durable. Copper gutter systems can stay in great shape for over 50 years. However, they are much pricier than other metal gutter systems.
Keep in mind that gutter materials are also offered in an array of thicknesses. Thicker gutter materials are typically more durable than thinner ones.
CONSIDER SEAMLESS GUTTERS
There are two main types of gutters — sectional gutters and seamless gutters. While many homeowners are happy with traditional sectional gutters, seamless gutters do offer benefits that many homeowners find desirable due to their lack of seams.
Sectional gutters are prefabricated in precut sections that your gutter professional joins together around the perimeter of your roof with joints that are also called seams. For seamless gutters, a professional creates them on-site and cuts them to the exact length needed to surround the perimeter of your roof. When cut to fit your home precisely, the need for seams is eliminated almost entirely.
Many types of debris that flow through gutters can get stuck on gutter seams, leading to gutter clogs and backups over time. Since seamless gutters contain few seams, they are less prone to clogs and backups due to debris accumulation.
In addition, as gutter materials expand and contract due to temperature fluctuations, they can split at the seams, leading to gutter leaks. For this reason, seamless gutters are less prone to leaks
When deciding between sectional and seamless gutters, keep your home maintenance desires in mind. If you do not mind cleaning your gutters a few times a year and obtaining occasional gutter seam repair, then sectional gutters are a good option for you. If you would like to spend less time cleaning and repairing your gutters, then choose seamless gutters.
CHOOSE YOUR GUTTER SIZE WISELY
Gutters are available in an array of sizes ranging from 4 to 6 inches in width. The right gutter size for your home depends on many factors, including your roof pitch, the area’s rainfall density, and your current gutter system’s tendency to accumulate debris. Wider gutters can handle heavy rains more effectively than more narrow gutters without overflowing. In addition, when debris falls in them, wider gutters typically clog at a slower pace.
While your gutter professional can recommend the right gutter size for you, you may want to choose the largest gutter size available to reduce the chance of gutter backups and clogs.
If your current gutters keep springing leaks or have developed cracks or holes, you may need to replace your home gutter system.
Keep these tips in mind during this process and contact the gutter experts at Seagate Roofing and Foundation Services to schedule new home gutter installation today.