Putting in New Gutters

Some features, you add to a house to make it more attractive. Some you add to increase its investment value. But still other features, you add out of necessity. Gutters might not be pretty but they're needed. Why? Because gutters and eves are what keep a heavy rain from causing a flood right by the house that will damage your lawn or create ruts in the dirt. Most importantly though, they keep the water off of your windows, siding, and doors. Without the gutters and eves, these house parts could easily become damaged.

The usual process is to install gutters and eves on a roof that already exists, but this is not necessarily the ideal situation. In fact, if you plan on getting a new roof, this is the ideal time to install a new gutter system. After all, when you do it this way, you can more perfectly integrate the gutters and the roof as a single unit. The gutters thus become more stable, and will probably last longer.

You could hire a professional installer to put in your new gutters. However, it's not that difficult of a task, and you can save a lot of money if you accept the challenge of doing it yourself.

As you're preparing to put in your new gutters, you'll need to decide what material you want. There are several common types, including copper, steel, aluminum, wood, and vinyl. Many people find vinyl to be the best choice, because they are less expensive than the other options, and yet they look good and last a long time. Plus most home improvement and hardware stores carry them, so they shouldn't be very hard to find. Try to avoid wood gutters. While they can look nice, they aren't as long-lasting.

More common than vinyl gutters are aluminum and steel. In fact, it's safe to say that more houses have traditionally installed these types of gutters than any other material. Even with the rise in popularity of vinyl, some people stick with their preference of aluminum; they argue that these are inexpensive and do not rust.

Few people today insist on steel gutters, however. An exception might be if a person often finds himself needing to lean a ladder up against the house. In this case, the steel gutter withstands the force of the ladder much better than aluminum does, and perhaps better than even vinyl.

While we might think of metal gutters as metallic gray, today they come in a host of different colors. So if you find that you must use aluminum or steel, there's no reason why they have to be ugly.

You will typically buy gutters in sections. These sections run anywhere from 10 feet to 22 feet long. in addition to these main sections, there are corners, connectors, caps, downspouts and fittings. You will find these made to match the main gutter sections, in the same material and color.

When you're at the hardware or home-improvement store, ask the representative if they carry seamless gutters. This option is growing in popularity because of how well they protect your home. A regular gutter, when it has aged, often springs leaks or begins to erode around the seams. A seamless gutter avoids these problems. Both the inside and outside of these are joined at the corners and downspout outlets; this prevents the problems that a leaky seam could cause. The seamless gutter also has a finish that is baked on.

Whichever gutters you choose, be sure to shop around so you get the best price. And don't be afraid to ask for advice regarding the installation. After all, this is an important project you're taking; you want to get it right.