Important Considerations When Installing A New Gutter System
Gutters are an essential investment for homes. They protect the roof, walls, and foundation from damage caused by excessive water exposure. Instead of letting water run down the roof and walls only to pool at your foundation, gutters direct water flow away from your home. If you've decided to install new gutters on your home, there are a few things that you'll need to consider. Here are some of the decisions you'll have to think about when you're planning a new gutter installation.
Understand The Style Options
Gutters are available in two primary styles. The most common, and the oldest of those styles, is sectional gutters. Sectional gutters are just what they sound like. It's a gutter system comprised of many different sections which are all mounted together with brackets to create a continuous flow. These are the more affordable option, but they are more prone to leaks because of the multiple seams where the sections meet.
The alternative to sectional gutters is seamless gutters. Unlike sectional gutters, seamless gutters are crafted precisely to the measurements of your home. You'll have solid, long sections of gutters along each of the sides of your home with seams only placed at corners and at the downspout locations. They are often more costly to install because of the custom design, but they are less likely to leak since they have fewer vulnerable seams.
Evaluate Your Downspout Placement
When you start planning a gutter installation project, you'll want to talk with your installation contractor about the best placement for your downspouts. Remember that the downspouts will consolidate all of the water flow, so they will often pass a large amount of water through them. As a result, you need to be sure that these downspouts are placed in locations where water will flow away from your home instead of pooling.
You also need to be sure that any downspouts are located in areas that are away from your circuit panels, breaker boxes, air conditioners, and electrical meters. The last thing you want to do is have water pool up around these devices, so talk with your installation contractor about the ideal downspout locations based on your property's layout and terrain.
Choose The Right Material
Gutters are crafted from a variety of materials, including metal, stainless steel, and vinyl. Talk with your installation contractor about the benefits and drawbacks of each one. For example, if you live somewhere along a coastline, salt air could cause more rapid corrosion of certain metal gutters, while areas with harsh winter temperatures could leave vinyl gutters at risk of freezing and cracking. Your gutter installation contractor can help you to evaluate each option based on your home's needs and your climate so that you get a gutter system that will last for many years to come.
Talk with a gutter installation contractor, such as one from Top of The Trades, to learn more.