Roofing and Building Center

Different Guttering Options

Posted on January 3, 2010 by Samuel Cheeseman ----- Advertisement

The many different guttering systems now available are designed to effectively collect water from your roof and channel it towards the downpipes and away from your property. It is important that your guttering is kept in a good condition as any damage could lead to leaks that will cause serious problems in your home. Water stains can appear on the walls and fascias along with damp and black mold inside the property. Water will at some point make its way to the base of your home where it could trickle down into the foundations and basement area. If your basement waterproofing is not sufficient then this could create serious problems in the future. With all of this in mind it is obviously important to replace damaged rain gutters and complete gutter repair and maintenance when necessary. If you are planning to install a new gutter system in your home then there are various options for you to consider.

Materials

Some of the materials most commonly used in new gutter installation projects are aluminium, steel, PVC, copper and zinc. A cast iron gutter system was commonly used in the past but has now largely been replaced with the use of cheaper metals. Aluminium or PVC will usually be the cheapest rain gutter options with zinc and copper gutters being some of the most expensive. Due to the higher prices of zinc and copper gutter installations they will more commonly be used on older properties where they can complement the other traditional building materials that are still in place. New homes and most other properties that are installing replacement gutters and downspouts will be using aluminium, plastic or steel. These materials are all fairly durable and reasonably priced. Plastic and aluminium guttering will provide a great budget option for many homeowners especially and those living in warmer climates that do not experience frequent torrential rainfall or storms. Galvanized steel is a more expensive but much stronger, durable and long lasting option. It will fare better in areas where heavy rainfall is expected. Although steel guttering will cost more initially you can expect to receive good value for money and also to make savings in the future due to the minimal maintenance and repair work that will be required. Aluminium and plastic guttering is likely to be more expensive to maintain.

Styles and Sizes

There are various styles of guttering that you can choose from such as half round, Deepflow, K-style and square. Different manufactures will often have their own name for each of these styles in order to distinguish their products from others on the market. The most important point is to make sure that the guttering style you choose will allow for adequate drainage. Any of the popular styles will be able to satisfy the drainage requirements in most homes. The size of your guttering system is another important consideration. If you choose a gutter which is too small it could overflow during heavy rainfall and cause all kinds of water damage. If you experience high annual rainfall in your location then you should choose whichever size your supplier classes as ‘large’ this will often be around seven inches. Medium sized guttering which is five to six inches will be sufficient in most other areas where heavy rain is not going to be a problem. One other consideration you will need to make is whether you would like sectional or seamless gutters. Sectional designs are much cheaper but are also much more likely to leak from the joints. You may want to look into having a seamless guttering system installed which will have the advantage of being custom designed and built for your property.

Maintenance and Cleaning

When installing a new guttering system you must make an effort to keep it in a good state of repair so that its lifetime remains as long as possible and your property is not subjected to water damage. Blockages can occur quite easily and a build up of leaves, debris and water can sometimes be heavy enough to pull sections from the gutter brackets. Gutter cleaning tools are available and these Cleaners should be used once or twice annually. Alternatively a small garden trowel can be used instead. Bare in mind that gutter cleaning may need to be carried out more frequently in properties with large trees nearby.

One way in which you can reduce the cleaning and maintenance requirements of your guttering system is to install a gutter guard. These devices can prevent the build up of leaves and debris very effectively as long as you purchase one that is compatible with your guttering system. There are many reasonably priced gutter guards available and the internet is a great place to begin looking for one.