5 Things to Consider When Replacing your Gutters

1. Size – Is the current size gutter system you have on your home the correct size? Do you live in an area with constant heavy rainfall? Do you have a steep pitched roof? Oversized 6” gutters hold more water than the standard 5” gutter system and may be a viable option to consider when replacing your gutter system. Standard and oversized gutters can be interchanged within the same gutter job. Choosing to use a standard or oversized gutter depends on your roofline, surface area, and pitch.

• Here are some guidelines to determine which size is right for your home:

Basic 5” Standard Seamless Gutter Qualifications:

• All gutter lengths under 40’ with at least 1 downspout
• Gutters over 40’ in length should have 2 downspouts
• Gutters do not overflow on regular or normal rains
• No upper roofs gutters should be draining into lower 5″ gutters
• You’ve had 5” previously and you haven’t had overflow

Basic 6” Oversized Seamless Gutter Qualifications

• Gutter lengths over 40’ that cannot have 2 downspouts
• Lower gutters that have upper gutters draining into them
• Long runs over 60’
• Large roof surface with heavy amounts of water concentrating to a small portion of gutter.
• Inside valleys where the water is flowing at great speed, and typically overflows during heavy rains.

2. Color, material, and style – Are you looking to change up the style of your gutter system and/or accent your home with a new color or material of gutter? Did the previous material used on your home not last as long as you would have liked? When it comes to your gutters you may think “they are just gutters, how many options are there really?” Well the answer is a lot!
   • Aluminum – This material in standard white is the most commonly used gutter system. However, aluminum comes in all different colors. Choose a color pallet of your choice to accent or match your homes decor. You can even mix colors within the same job.
   • Copper – Properly maintained copper gutters can last from 50-150 years. Copper gutters initially give off a very shiny metallic look. Over time once the patina begins to form, the gutters will begin to take on a vintage look.
   • Galvanized and Galvalume are a combination of steel, zinc, and aluminum creating a longer lifespan than just steel or aluminum alone. These materials give off a more modern and refined look. Galvanized is a shinier silver metallic, where as Galvalume has a duller gunmetal feel to it.
   • Half-round or K-style – typically the half-round gutters are chosen for aesthetic beauty, rather than functionality. That is not to infer that half-round gutters are not efficient, but because they are half-round, they cannot handle the same amount of volume as a k-style gutter, and are more inclined to have some overflow in the really heavy rains.
3. Fascia condition – Fascia is a board running horizontally under a roof edge, typically consisting of wood or sheet metal. Does your home currently have a fascia board that your gutters are attached to? Is it in good condition or is it rotting? If your home does not have fascia, or it is damaged, it will need to be re-installed or repaired prior to gutter installation. Symptoms of damaged fascia include peeling paint, warping, stains and crumbling wood. If installing fascia is not an option for you, or your home, there is a way your gutter system can be hung without it, using a roof strap. The roof straps attach to the hidden hanger inside the gutter and secure right onto the roof.
4. Does your roof need to be replaced too? While you are replacing your gutters it is important to check the condition of your roof as well. When replacing a roof, the gutter system will need to be taken down as well, and after being taken down, often need to be replaced all together. If you are replacing your gutters now it may make sense to do the roof as well, if it is needed or you believe it will be needed in the near future.
5. Amount of gutter – Are you looking to replace the gutter system on your entire house, or just certain sections? Are there some sections on your home that did not have gutters hung originally that you would like to have installed now? Knowing how much guttering you want is important to properly plan a project and/or the projected cost of this project

One last important aspect to remember when thinking about repairing or replacing your gutter system is to consider using The Brothers that just do Gutters!