The Different Types of Gutters, and How to Choose the One For Your Home

There are lots of different parts to your roof that enable it to protect your home from the elements and keep it safe. One of the most important parts of your roof is the guttering, but yet it’s so easy to overlook this essential part.

Here are the types of gutters you can have installed on your roof and how you can choose the one that is right for you and your home.

Why Is Guttering Important?

Most homeowners will know their guttering is important, but they may not understand just how essential it is to keep your home safe from potential damage. Guttering on your roof is designed to collect water that is shed off the roof itself and then redirect it to drains safely.

Without gutters, that shed water will start causing damage to the fascias of your building, water damage to the foundation of your home, and more. Guttering is essential to protect these elements of your home from rainwater.

This is why it is essential to both have proper guttering installed, and to keep up maintenance on it. A broken or blocked gutter must be corrected as soon as possible, as if it is left, the damage will worsen over time.

The Different Types Of Gutters

If you are having new gutters installed, it is also important to understand the different types of gutters that are available to you. There are three main types of gutters that you can have installed on your home. 

K Style Gutters

Right now, these gutters are the most common guttering style that you will see on most modern homes. When you look at these gutters, they have a very similar look to crown molding that would be used in the inside of your home. These are a popular choice as they then blend in with the look of the home overall, especially because they are able to be made in different colors and materials as required.

As well as being a popular choice for style, they are also highly functional. While the front of the gutter is styled to match the home, the back is flat so they can be easily installed to fascia boards around your roof. Because of their shape, they also are highly durable. Because of this, they can withstand a lot more damage from bad weather or the elements in general.

If you have these installed, you do need to be aware that they are susceptible to clogging. This easily happens when leaves are blown into gutters or debris makes its way off the roof into the guttering itself.  This can be counted by doing regular checks of your gutters, and unclogging them when needed. Also, these gutters can be prone to corrosion, so checking for this regularly will also help mitigate this damage.

Half Round Gutters

These are another common guttering type that you will see on some homes. As the name implies, they are made from a half of a circular pipe, with the top of it left open to collect water.

These gutters are typically used on older homes, as they were more common in the past. You will often see them used as well to give a home a more rustic look. Many also like to install them because they are easier to keep clean, thanks to the shape of them more easily flushing out debris. Of course, you will still need to check them every now and again to ensure you find any remaining debris.

Another benefit of these gutters is that they are less likely to corrode over time. This is because there is no where for water to pool or stand in the gutters, so water cannot damage it over time.

If you do want these gutters, you need to know that they are more expensive, thanks to higher labour costs with a more involved installation procedure. They are also heavier than the guttering styles, so a common issue is them pulling loose from their brackets. This is something you will have to look out for when you are doing inspections of your roof.

Box Gutters

When it comes to commercial buildings, you will typically see box style gutters. These are designed to handle a large amount of water when a larger roof is being used. That makes these gutters an oversized option.

They are installed under the shingles on a roof rather than around the edge of the roof like traditional gutters. This ensures that no water can get along the roof edge and get into the building.

If installing these gutters on an older building, you may see that you have to have the roof reinstalled with new shingles. Your roofer should be able to advise you on whether that would be the case for your building.

Which Gutters Are Right For You?

These are just three of the most popular types of gutters available right now. Which one should you be choosing for your home? The answer very much depends on you, your home, and your own needs.

For example, budget is always a huge factor in these things. This is why so many people go with the K style gutters, because they are more affordable than the half round options. K style gutters are also great for more modern homes, as they blend in so seamlessly. 

Materials will also be a factor. There are several different materials you can have gutters made from. Vinyl has become a popular choice because it does not corrode and never dent. However they do not last as long as metal gutters. Aluminum is a popular choice because it is affordable, but can be damaged by temperature fluctuations. Copper is often used for half round gutters, as they help add to the look of them. However, these are the most expensive option.

There are plenty of options for you when it comes to gutters for your home. If you’re still not sure which one you should pick, contact a professional roofing company for advisement.

If you live in Virginia areas such as Warren, Fairfax, Winchester, or Leesburg, Piedmont Roofing will be happy to help you with your roofing needs.