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.

The Purpose of Guttering

Rain gutters form part of the roofing system of a property and are designed to transfer any water away from the roof and down to ground level. A roof is usually designed in a way that will shed water to avoid it collecting and causing any damage. The water is shed into the guttering system which prevents it from running off of the roof. It is then often transferred via the downspout into a drain. This helps to reduce damage to the exterior walls, fascias, doors and windows of the property by limiting any exposure to water. Protection of the foundations and any underground area such as the basement is also increased by keeping water away. A gutter can also provide a way to collect rainwater when required.

There are many forms of guttering currently available and various materials are used to produce them. Residential properties commonly feature gutters which are constructed from some form of plastic such as PVC. Many are however constructed from metals including iron, galvanized steel, zinc, lead or copper gutters. Stone, wood and concrete are also used in some cases. A guttering system can be integrated as a hidden part of the roof (such as a box gutter) or others may be attached under the edge of a roof allowing them to catch water as it drains over the roofs edge. They can sometimes also be integrated as part of the exterior walls of a property. An individual gutter can now be produced on site just before installation using a process known as cold working or cold forming. This allows the creation of seamless gutters which use the least number of joints possible. This generally reduces the chance of any leakages occurring or of the guttering breaking due to a weak joint.

Maintenance

In order to ensure that your rain gutters remain effective in protecting your property from some of the damaging effects of water it will be necessary to carry out some light maintenance around twice each year. This may be required more often during wet seasons or if there are large deciduous trees near your home. The most common problem you will experience with your guttering systems will usually be blocking caused by leaves or other debris. Metallic gutters may also be susceptible to corrosion. A small spade which you may use for potting plants in your garden will be sufficient to perform any required gutter cleaning and remove any leaves or debris. A hose can then be used to flush out any material from the downspouts.
You can reduce the level of maintenance that will be required to keep your guttering systems working effectively by taking some pre-emptive action. There are many low cost gutter protection devices available which when installed correctly can greatly reduce the amount of debris making its way into your gutters. These products are gutter covers marketed under various names including the gutter guard or gutter helmet. Most of these products work in a similar way and are reasonably priced. It will also be a good idea to take some steps to prevent your downpipes becoming blocked wherever possible. This can be achieved by installing a downspout guard purchased from a DIY store or by creating a device yourself using a piece of steel mesh which is large enough to cover the opening of your downspout. Both of these options will act as a kind of ‘sieve’ for your downspout and trap larger objects such as leaves and other debris while at the same time allowing water to drain into the downspout. Gutter guard systems will require clearing out a couple of times each year when you are working on clearing your gutters.

Damage and Repairs

The main causes of physical damage to guttering systems are the weight of water which has collected (due to blockages) causing the rain gutter to break away from its fastenings and also damage as a result of storms. Gutters can often move from their original positions over time due to constant exposure to the elements. This can mean that they are no longer sloping and so not channelling water to the downpipes effectively. This problem can be easily identified if standing water is visible in your gutters. A small adjustment should be all that is necessary to re-slope the rain gutter. Another obvious sign that your gutter may have sustained some light damage is the appearance of water stains on the outside of the gutter. This is often caused by a leak coming from a small hole or crack. In this case the damaged area can be easily repaired by first drying the section in question and then applying some kind of silicone sealant to seal the hole. This can be obtained from your local DIY or hardware store. Superficial damage which occurs at the joints in your guttering can also be repaired in this way. More of the sealant will be required and should be applied generously over the damaged area and also a few centimetres to each side. This should be allowed to dry for a full day before being checked to make sure that it is water tight. Any severe damage to your gutters especially as the result of a storm may require a professional contractor to carry out adequate repairs or replace individual sections.

Pricing

The price of guttering will vary greatly depending on the size of your property and which materials you would like your gutters to be constructed from. Basic PVC plastic guttering can be purchased relatively cheaply at under $10 for four meters. Aluminium will cost significantly more and may be ten times the cost of PVC, sometimes even more. If you wish to have seamless gutters installed on your property then contacting a supplier will usually be the best idea as prices will vary greatly depending on your individual property. Accessories such as gutter guards can typically be purchased for less than $20. It is a good idea to visit a few DIY stores or browse the websites of some online suppliers to get an idea of what you can expect to pay. If you are thinking about gutter installation for the first time or would like a completely new guttering system rather than repairing an old one then most people will need to consult a professional contractor who will be able to provide you with a quotation. The contractors will be able to complete the whole project for you and will also have access to trade prices and so may be able to get a better deal than you would personally be able to negotiate for the materials.

One area which tends to get neglected more often than others is the rain gutters. A gutter can become blocked very easily and lead to a whole host of problems. These include leaks and overflowing water which can cause the rotting of wood both inside and outside of the home and also the rusting of any metal which may be holding the rain gutter in place. In extreme cases the gutters themselves can break free from a house under the weight of excess water leaving serious water damage visible on the exterior walls. Avoiding the costs of repairing water damage whenever possible can save you considerable amounts.

The blocking of gutters is more often than not caused by dead leaves and other debris clogging them up. The extent of the problem will often depend on the location of your home and its proximity to potential sources of debris such as deciduous trees. Gutter cleaning can usually be limited to once or twice per year but may be necessary more often in certain areas.

There are various kinds of tools available which are designed to clean rain gutters. Most require a hose pipe and are operated either from the ground or with the aid of a ladder. Many designs have a tool which enables you to pick debris from out of the gutter without even leaving the ground if the high pressure nozzle fails to clear the gutter. In rare situations it may sometimes be advantageous to operate these devices from the roof of your house both for safety reasons and better access. There are also a couple of new designs which require almost no effort from the user and take the form of small motorised devices which act as mini robots travelling the length of your rain gutter until it is  cleared.

One final option you have in order to deal with the problems of a blocked gutter is to take pre-emptive action. Gutter guards are now available which are designed to prevent blocking and therefore greatly reduce the need for any cleaning. This will mean the need for any repairs to the guttering itsself or to fix water damage will also hopefully go down. It is important to make sure that any gutter guard you purchase will fit your specific rain gutters and also that it is installed correctly.

Here is a resource where you can find more information on cleaning your gutters and guttering in general. Many other Home Articles can be found here.