New homeowners are going to feel like there is ALWAYS a project that needs to be tackled, something that needs to be repaired, replaced, or improved.
The gutters on your home are almost always going to need a little bit of attention unless they are brand-new and attached to brand-new construction, so this is a project you want to get out of the way ASAP. Your gutters will also have a huge impact on the overall longevity and durability of the rest of your home as water damage can wreak havoc if it is left unchecked.
At the same time, there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all type of gutter that works perfectly in every situation. New homeowners are surprised to learn that there are dozens and dozens of different kinds of gutters that they can pick and choose from, and this quick guide is going to help you narrow things down significantly.
Let’s dig right in!
Vinyl Gutters
When it comes time to add new gutters to an older home (or even add new gutters to a brand-new home) vinyl solutions are maybe the most popular option on the market today. Super easy to install (and therefore inexpensive) you also never have to worry about them rusting or degrading over time.
On the flip side of things, if you live in a colder climate with pretty nasty winters they might crack or buckle and you may end up replacing vinyl gutters on a more regular basis.
Aluminum Gutters
Aluminum gutters are top-notch options as well, offering a lot of the same benefits as vinyl gutters – super lightweight and easy to install even as a DIY project, etc. – with the added benefit of being completely and totally rustproof. These kinds of gutters can withstand all kinds of cold temperatures without any issue and can be painted to perfectly match your home.
These kinds of gutters can unfortunately be easily dented, scratched, and damaged – either by people on accident or by Mother Nature herself. This can compromise the effectiveness of these gutters and make your home look a little bit worse for wear, and tearing them off and replacing them because of some dents and dings is never fun.
Stainless Steel Gutters
Stainless steel gutters are some of the most expensive gutters you will ever end up paying for, but they offer significant benefits and improvements (particularly over vinyl and aluminum) when it comes to durability and longevity.
These kinds of gutters are sturdy, built so that they will not ever rust, and can take pretty much anything and everything Mother Nature and even absent-minded people can throw at them without looking any worse for wear. They also look pretty cool on your home when unpainted, though you can choose to paint them just the same way as you paint aluminum gutters as well.
At the end of the day, it’s really all going to come down to your budget and how you want your home to look as well as how often you potentially want to be calling roofing contractors in Oakland County, Michigan to come repair or replace sections of gutter or the entire gutter system.
Vinyl gutters are cheap and work wonders in warm climates, steel gutters will last almost as long as the framing in your home, and aluminum gutters offer a perfect middle ground for plenty of people.
Vinyl gutters are definitely where it’s at. Cheap and easy to maintain – what more could you ask for?