Why Now May Be a Good Time to Upgrade Your Gutters
Why Having a Good Gutter System Matters
Let’s face it. Whenever it rains or whenever that snow starts to melt, all that water on your roof has to go somewhere. Sure, you could just let it pour off of your roof on all sides, but that means you’re also likely to get wet whenever entering or exiting your house. More importantly, your roof, siding, windows, doors, building foundation, and more can all suffer some serious water damage as a result of not having a good gutter system in place to direct all of that moisture away from your building.
Rain gutters may not be the sexiest of home exterior features, but they’re still one of the most important. Reliable gutters effectively drain water off of your roof and direct it down and away from your home. But once your gutters are no longer able to function properly, that’s when you’ve got a real problem.
How to Know When It May Be Time to Replace Your Gutters
Sometimes, all you have to do is look up. If bucketfuls of water are pouring down over the sides of your gutters every time it rains, then it’s safe to say you have “an issue.” In other cases, the signs that it’s time to replace your gutters can be a little more subtle. It could simply be a matter of noticing some growing effects of water erosion around your house, beneath the areas your gutters are supposed to be draining. In worse cases, gutters that are clearly broken or damaged can result in real structural damage to your roof, attic, walls, infrastructure, or a combination of the above. At that point, damage can even start to occur inside your home, as well.
If you’ve recently experienced a severe storm, that’s definitely a good time to check the status of your gutters. Have your gutters become leaky, started to pull away from your roof, begun to sag, or are they perhaps sitting at a precarious angle that just doesn’t look even or right? If so, now is really the best time to act. Any good gutter product should be designed to last for many years, but even the best-made gutters will eventually require replacing.
Things to Keep in Mind When Upgrading Your Gutters
If the current state of your roof gutters indicates that replacement is probably the best solution, you’ll next need to make some important decisions. Which gutter material do you want to go with? Vinyl is probably the cheapest option, but it also happens not to be the strongest, and it comes in smaller sections which will have to be joined. The more seams there are in your gutter system, the more opportunities there are for leaks to develop. Metal gutters offer more structural strength and stability, but which metal is best? Galvalume metal, galvanized steel, copper, and aluminum are all common options, but there are pros and cons with each of these options, as well. Here are a few key points you should keep in mind when making your gutter replacement choices:
- Size & Style of Gutters
Were the gutters you’re planning to replace really designed to be the best fit for your roof? If your roof is set with a particularly steep pitch – or if your area just happens to get a lot of precipitation in general – you might be better to opt for a 6” gutter rather than a “standard” 5” gutter. You’ll also need to decide whether you prefer a K-style or half-round gutter design.
- How Much Coverage Do You Need?
One thing you may discover is that your old gutter system really didn’t offer proper coverage account for all the areas which your roof actually drains. If so, you may want to add some more gutter sections to your new coverage system. Having a good idea of how much guttering you’ll actually need will help you to make a better plan, and will help you to gain a better estimate of what the project is likely to cost, too.
- Materials & Aesthetics
Another important decision to make is which gutter material you prefer. Copper is really the “gold standard” of gutters, and a properly-installed copper gutter can last you for generations. The downside with copper is that it’s expensive, and it also doesn’t offer much in the way of color options. Galvalume metal and galvanized steel are also preferred metal choices, thanks to their long-lasting performance and wide palette of color choices. The price tag of both of these is a good bit more affordable than copper, too.
- Don’t Forget About Your Fascia
You may not be familiar with the term, but you probably still know what we’re talking about. “Fascia” describes the board which runs underneath your roof’s edge. In addition to helping maintain the structural integrity of your roof, fascia boards are also the surface upon which most gutters are mounted. It’s important to make sure your fascia is solid and in good condition before looking to attach new gutters. If any of your fascia is rotten or shows any soft spots, you’ll need to replace that before installing any new gutters.
- Check the Overall Condition of Your Roof, Too
If it’s time to plan a gutter replacement, it also makes sense to go ahead and assess the condition of your roof while you’re at it. If your current gutters aren’t in good shape, chances are good that there could also be an issue (or issues) with your roof that may need addressing, as well. Depending upon what you find, the best solution may be to go ahead and plan for a roof replacement & Gutter installation combo project. We realize that may not be the cheapest solution, but it’s honestly better to take care of everything at once, rather than simply putting a band-aid over some problems while trying to ignore others!
Conclusion
We hope you’ll find these tips to be helpful as you assess your current gutter situation, and are making plans for any needed gutter replacement solution. In addition, we can provide the best low-maintenance gutter guard solutions, too. Nobody takes better care of your gutter needs than Skywalker, and we offer several other valuable home improvement services, too. Reach out today, and let us show you the Skywalker difference!
About the Author
David
David composes for points like Home Improvement, Kitchen stylistic layout, Garden or travel-related themes furthermore; he has an enthusiasm for the metal structure industry for over ten years. Kylo has become an accomplished structure expert in this industry. He will probably assist individuals with his huge information to help them with his best recommendations about various home Decors. For example, Doors Replacements, Siding, Windows replacements, siding replacement, and business structures.
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