There is more to choosing rain gutters than just picking one based on how it looks or its pricing. If installing rain gutters would be as easy as fixing yourself a cup of tea, then there wouldn’t be professional rain gutter contractors, now would there? There are many factors to consider when making a choice on what rain gutters to opt for. You have to factor in the roof type, the gutter profiles, material, and of course, the price factor. Read on to learn more.
- Type of roof
The type of roof you have will determine what rain gutters are best for your house. This is because the roof design affects how rain water lands on the roof, the speed at which the rain water flows into the gutter, as well as the ease of installation.
Shingle roofs are the most common in the United States. For these, 5-inch gutters will do just the trick. Shingle roofing has a way of directing water downwards in mini-streams, making it easy for the water to get into the gutter without shooting over it.
Tile roofing, on the other hand, requires a larger size of the gutter, preferably 6-inch gutters. This is because water flows at much higher speeds over tile roofing, creating a considerable chance of the water flowing over the gutter rather than flowing into it
- Gutter Profiles
Gutter profile refers to the properties of the rain gutters. This consist of the size of the rain gutter, the material, shape, and quality.
- Material
The material dictates the durability of the gutters. Rain gutters come in different materials, including aluminum galvanized steel, copper, steel, vinyl, brass, and zinc. Zinc gutters are durable and last longer while galvanized steel ones are prone to rust. Aluminum gutters are affordable, but they aren’t as strong. Care has to be taken while using ladders to climb up the roof. They can succumb to the ladder weight. Copper gutters, on the other hand, are upscale and attractive, but will surely cost you more. Vinyl gutters, on the other hand, are not as durable as they break down over time due to exposure to direct sunlight.
- Shape
The different shapes available include, the K-style, Fascia, and half-round gutters. The K-style is also called “ogee”, and it comes in a shape that resembles a crown molding. The fascia gutter has a rather smooth face that hides the rafter tails. The half-round gutters on the other hand look like half cut cylindrical troughs whose open end faces the roof.
- Size
The two main rain gutter sizes are the 5 inch and the 6-inch ones. Universally, most of them are the K-style ones which come with 2 X 3-inch downspouts for the 5-inch ones and 3 X 4-inch downspouts for the 6-inch ones.
Parting Shot
Rain gutter installation is a technical process that should be handled by professionals. Ask for professional input before you opt for any gutter type.