Rain gutters are very important to protect your house from the elements gathering on top of your roof. A properly installed gutter helps in routing the runoff from a very high surface like roof to proper drainage away from the house. This helps in keeping your house high and dry while protecting your siding, window panels, doors and other foundations of your house from water damage.
As you can see, rain gutters are very important for proper upkeep of your house. Therefore, choosing the one amongst different available materials and designs is much more important.
Here's a list of common gutter materials and benefits related to them, keeping in mind all the important details before you choose a specific gutter for the house.
Vinyl Gutters These have become a popular option for rain gutter installation among most of the home owners. This is because of its cheap price, ease of installation and rust free elements. Its lightweight and easy snapping sections make it really easy to maintain. A properly installed gutter functions really well in every climate, just like other materials. Though these gutters grow brittle and crack under extreme cold conditions, they are a really good choice if you are looking for a new one while hanging on to a tight budget.
Wood Gutters These gutters are usually made of cedar, redwood or fir, but due to the advent of cheaper mass produced materials, wood gutters have dropped out of favor. The gutters which used to be a norm at some point of time are now most often used for renovation of historic houses where staying true to the building materials has gained much more precedence over durability. You need to be prepared with bundles of bill in case you are planning to install this classic gutter system to your house.
Stainless Steel This material is almost indestructible, rust free and one of the most durable materials in the industry. The only concern related with this gutter material is its cost, which runs two-to-three times the cost when compared to other gutter materials. Get ready to shell out some more peanuts if you wish to go this route.
Aluminum Gutters These gutters come in different qualities: one is the primary gutter which is thicker and made up of superior quality material, and the other one is secondary aluminum which is basically a byproduct of recycled materials. These are also very cost effective, lightweight, and rust proof as vinyl gutters. What makes them a preferable option over other materials is that they hold paint really well and stay intact even in adverse weather conditions, unlike vinyl fences.
Steel and Copper Gutters Just like aluminum gutters, these gutters come in different qualities. But galvanized steel gutters are much more popular than their aluminum counterpart. It's because of their competitive cost and much more sturdiness when it comes to the damage caused by falling branches and ladders. The only drawback of this is its rust factor which can be taken care of with proper maintenance. Copper gutters are one of the most beautiful gutter materials available in the market and just like stainless steel, they have longer durability. The only barrier with copper gutters is its price because they would win for sure if there's a race of the most expensive gutter material.
Sectional or Seamless Gutters The final thing that you need to consider is whether you'll go for sectional joints or a seamless gutter. Most of these materials are available in sectional joints which are fastened when installed. However, aluminum gutters are available in seamless varieties, which is basically custom made to fit your house in one long sheet of metal. It is advised to go with seamless gutter, as sectional gutters fail after years of wear at joints and seams. While on the other hand, you wouldn't face such problems with seamless gutters which makes it a popular choice for those who can afford a bit of extra dollars.
If you are looking for maximum savings or you're more concerned about stunning looks, there's a rain gutter out there to meet everyone's need. Get in touch with a licensed contractor to ensure that your gutters are installed properly and find out which gutters suit your house and budget the best.
