As you most likely know, gutters are main roof components that channel rainwater away from the building’s exterior walls and foundations. Understanding what gutters do is the easy part. Finding the right residential gutters is not so easy. The first step to finding which guttering system to get is to understand the differences among the various types. And here we are going to tell you the main characteristics of the most popular gutter types.
Gutter types and styles
They are known as rain residential or commercial gutters because they keep water from licking the exterior walls and thus prevent indoor water damage, foundation rotting, and siding mold. There are two ways to conceive the gutter types: the way they are constructed and their shape.
The way gutters are constructed define whether they will be seamed or seamless.
· Seamed gutters are sectional. They come in separate pieces and then the gutter service contractor snap or overlap them together to match the requirements of your building. The advantage of these gutter types is that each piece can be easily replaced if it becomes damaged. Their downside is that should they are strained, they can be separated or break and most likely facilitate a leak.
· Seamless gutters are one-piece. They are cut to fit on site by the contractor and there are no limits when it comes to their length. The benefit of these gutters is that they are free of joints and enhance the smooth appearance of the roofline. The bad news is that should they become damaged, the entire gutter must be replaced unless you won’t mind turning it into a sectional gutter by having the bad part cut and replaced by a new one. In any case, the seamless gutter installation is always done by a contractor and not homeowners.
Gutter shapes define their style
The most popular gutter styles are K and half round. Both of these styles are found in the most popular sizes too. That’s 5” & 6” gutters.
· K-style gutters are distinguished for their flat backs and bottoms while the front part is often decorated like a molding.
· Half-round gutters are tube-shaped and so they look like half-round pipes with both or only one upper lip curved.
Now, there is also the fascia gutter style but this type is rarely used and mainly on buildings with flat exteriors without fascia boards.
The complicated design of half-round gutters kicks the price tag higher than their K style counterparts. And so the higher half-round gutter installation cost is a bit discouraging especially since these types do not offer a greater advantage than the K-styles. On the contrary, the K-style gutters come in plenty of variations, are more stable, and cost less. They can withstand the strain of debris better and so they are great for harsh weather conditions. Lastly, fascia gutters are great for large roofs since they can faster channel large amounts of water away from the building but they are harder to install and more expensive.
Get the right gutter size too
There is no doubt that with a 5” or 6” gutter installation, all building requirements are covered. The size defines the width of the gutter and thus how fast rainwater can run off. Most homes will be fine with 5” gutters. 6” gutters are common with half-round styles and necessary in regions with heavy rainfalls. This is actually the larger size available since bigger gutters are not usually necessary and will only be heavier while they might compromise the good looks of your property. Still, you can always turn to a gutter service company for custom sizes.
There are some variations among K-style gutters but the important thing here is to first define whether you are inclined to choose K or half-round gutter replacement products.
