A good quality guttering system is your homes first line of defense against the elements. Your gutters protect your home by drawing water away from homes walls and cladding. But choosing a rain gutter system can be confusing. As gutters come in many types, sizes, styles and materials. But there is also price to consider as you want a system that is affordable and long lasting. It can be a confusing process sometimes better left to the professionals like the team at Taylor Fascia who are industry experts in supplying and install guttering in Auckland. This article is a simple guide to help you understand the different things you need to consider when selecting or replacing your homes gutters.
Durability
When picking your gutters, it is important to consider how durable the material is. As gutters come in many different materials from vinyl to aluminum and copper. When investing money in replacing your gutters you want to get a solution which will last for a long time. As your gutters are exposed to all types of weather conditions, durability is a very important factor.
As with most things you get what you pay for, this is definitely the case with gutters. As the cheapest option is vinyl gutters but these are not very durable. They are prone to cracking and splitting and may only last around 10 years if not well maintained. The most durable material for gutters these days is copper. Although it is the most expensive option, copper gutters can last from 50 to 100 years. This is due to the natural properties of copper, as overtime it forms a patina that acts as a protective layer against rust.
Sectional or Continuous
The final thing to consider is whether you want sectional gutters or a continuous guttering system. Most commonly available gutters are only available in sections that are joined and fastened together at the seams as they are installed. This is like the guttering systems sold at your local hardware store. These gutters are glued or sealed together to form the length of gutter you need for your home. Although over time these seams need repairs as they are a weak point in the gutters construction.
Although with copper and aluminum gutters, they are available in seamless varieties that are custom cut to fit your home out of a single sheet of metal. The advantages of continuous gutters are that there is no seams or joins, so there are no weak points. Although these gutters are more costly than sectional gutters, they require less repairs and maintenance so are a good solution that will save you money in the long term.
Size of Gutters
Your gutters should be sized based on the maximum rainfall you can expect, not the average rainfall. When looking at what gutters to buy for your home, consider the extremes of weather that you experience in your area. As it is always better to have bigger gutters than gutters that are too small, and will overflow.
Common gutter sizes range from 4 to 8 inches in width, the most common size is 6-5 inches wide. But it is important to consider the amount of rainfall your home gets, when selecting your gutters as it is extremely dependent on your location. Also, you need to consider the intensity of that rainfall, as you may not get rain often but when it rains its very heavy. Then you would still need larger gutters to cope with heavy downpours.
Consider the features as well as the pros and cons of each roof gutter type. Pick a gutter that offers a balance between durability, ease of maintenance, and price. It is also important to get a licensed contractor to ensure to install your gutters. As even the best quality gutters can fail, if they are not installed correctly.
