Although there are many things to consider when replacing your gutters, here are what Coast to Coast Gutters considers the top 5.
- Size– Especially if you live in an area with consistent heavy rainfall, you need to make sure your current size gutter system you have on your home is the correct size. Is your roof steep pitched? Does water overflow the gutters under heavy rain? 6” gutters hold more water than the standard 5” gutter system and may be a great upgrade to consider when it’s time to replace your existing gutters. Standard and oversized gutters can be interchanged on the same home, allowing the best use of gutter sizing. Choosing which to use, either standard or oversized, depends on factors like your roof line, surface area, and environment.
We wanted to provide some guidelines to determine which gutter would work best for your home:
5” Standard Seamless Gutter Qualifications:
- All gutter lengths less than 40’ have at least 1 downspout
- Gutter lengths over 40’ in length should have 2 or more downspouts
- Gutters do not currently overflow during normal or heavy rain
- No gutters on the upper roof should drain into lower 5″ gutters
- You have 5” currently and haven’t had any overflow
6” Oversized Seamless Gutter Qualifications
- All lengths over 40’ have more than 2 downspouts
- Upper gutters drain into 6 in gutters
- Longer runs can be over 40’
- Large roof surfaces exist with large amounts of water draining into a small portion of gutter.
- Roof valleys where water flows rapidly and frequently overflows the gutter under heavy rain
- Color, style, and materials– If you want to change the looks and style of your gutters and/or accent your home with new materials or colors, you may not think of gutters. However, gutters can dramatically affect the look and feel of your home.
Aluminum – This material in standard white is the most commonly used gutter system. However, aluminum comes in all different colors. Choose a color pallet of your choice to accent or match your decor. You can even mix colors within the same job.
Copper – Properly maintained copper gutters can last from 50-150 years. Copper gutters initially give off a very shiny metallic look. Over time once the patina begins to form, the gutters will begin to take on a vintage look.
Galvanized is a combination of steel, zinc, and aluminum creating a longer lifespan than just steel or aluminum alone. These materials give off a more modern and refined look. Galvanized is a shinier silver metallic.
Half-round or K-style – typically the half-round gutters are chosen for aesthetic beauty, rather than functionality. That is not to infer that half-round gutters are not efficient, but because they are half-round, they cannot handle the same amount of volume as a k-style gutter, and are more inclined to have some overflow in really heavy rains.
- Fascia condition– Fascia is a board running horizontally under a roof edge, typically consisting of wood or sheet metal. Does your home currently have a fascia board that your gutters are attached to? Is it in good condition or is it rotting? If your home does not have fascia, or it is damaged, it will need to be re-installed or repaired prior to gutter installation. Symptoms of damaged fascia include peeling paint, warping, stains and crumbling wood. If installing fascia is not an option for you, or your home, there is a way your gutter system can be hung without it using a roof strap. The roof straps attach to the hidden hanger inside the gutter and secure right onto the roof.
- Does your roof need to be replaced?While you are replacing your gutters it is important to check the condition of your roof as well. When replacing a roof, the gutter system will need to be taken down as well, and after being taken down, often need to be replaced all together. If you are replacing your gutters now it may make sense to do the roof as well, if it is needed or you believe it will be needed in the near future.
- Amount of gutter– Are you looking to replace the gutter system on your entire house, or just certain sections? Are there some sections on your home that did not have gutters hung originally that you would like to have installed now? Knowing how much guttering you want is important to properly plan a project and/or the projected cost of this project
One last important aspect to remember when thinking about repairing or replacing your gutter system is to consider using Coast to Coast Gutters!