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Choosing the right color can add curb appeal, value, and a finishing touch to your property. The gutter colors you have to choose will largely depend on the type and material that you select. For example, copper and steel are unpainted and don’t come in any additional colors. Whereas, vinyl and aluminum gutters come in a range of color options. Rain gutters come in various styles and materials, but the right one for your home depends on your budget and preferences.
Types of Rain Gutters and How to Choose One
Gutters can be found in even larger sizes – 7- and 8-inch sized gutters. However, these are usually only installed on industrial or commercial properties and are not suited for residential homes. Now that you have a better understanding of how gutters are characterized based on their shape, let’s take a look at the various materials they can be made out of. In fact, you may still find wood gutters on significantly old or historical homes. Half-round gutters are commonly found on homes that were built before 1960. In fact, if you live in an older neighborhood, your homeowners’ association might require this type of gutter.
Connect downspout to gutter
This process strengthens the metal, which protects the gutters from rust. Like aluminum gutters, they have an average life span of 20 years. You may also find copper and zinc gutters, which are low-maintenance, durable options. Today’s rain gutters are designed to complement or blend into both the color scheme and architectural style of your home.
aluminum material
They’re also a way for you to conserve water by directing it into a rain barrel. For more on rain barrels, read How to Buy, Install and Use a Rain Barrel. Gutter guards are a long-term investment since they help protect your gutter system and extend its life span. Gutters can be made of various materials, with vinyl and aluminum being the two most popular options.
Size
Regardless of which gutter type you choose, you will need to clean your gutters at least twice per year. To reduce gutter cleaning frequency and the chance of damage caused by falling debris, you can install a gutter guard. These products offer gutter protection by allowing water into the gutter while shedding debris to the surrounding ground. LeafFilter is the best gutter guard provider in our rankings, offering a durable micro-mesh design that blocks large and small debris to prevent gutter clogs. You can expect up to 50 years of use from your zinc gutters (somewhat less if you live near the ocean or anywhere else with salty air). Although they start off a dull gray, zinc gutters will develop an attractive patina over time.
Comparing Common Rain Gutter Materials
Gutter guards improve your gutters’ efficiency, reliability, and longevity by preventing clogs and debris buildup. We surveyed over 1,000 gutter guards customers and found that 68% of homeowners who installed gutter guards also repaired or replaced their gutters simultaneously. The most common types of gutters, galvanized steel and aluminum gutters, have an average lifespan of 20 years. Copper gutters, a more high-end option, can last up to 50 years. Your gutters’ width determines how much water they can handle without overflowing.
This has to do with the fact that the ends and joints need to be welded in order to be installed properly. Oftentimes, zinc gutters are primarily seen on high-end or historic properties. Although zinc gutters are known to be expensive, they are considerably durable and resistant to weathering, corrosion, and warping.
Homeowners, Beware: This Hidden Problem Could Cause Your House to Crumble
When properly installed, welded, and maintained, copper rain gutters can last up to a century. To have copper gutters professional installed, you can expect to pay between $15 and $15 a linear foot. Due to their durability and aesthetic appeal, you can expect to pay a premium for these types of gutters.
Which Type of Gutters Are Worth the Cost?
Inspect the fascia and soffit (Fig. B, below) for signs of rotted wood, which must be replaced before you put up the rain gutters. Many houses have a trim board or crown molding nailed to the fascia just under the shingles. You’ll need to remove this, as we did, or add a continuous strip of wood under it to create a flat plane for the gutters. In either case, prime and paint bare wood before you hang the gutters. We also suggest that you invest in gutter guards for your gutter systems.
If you cannot purchase gutters already fabricated in the color you're looking for, you can paint them or have them professionally painted. For homes in most regions of the country, rain gutters and downspouts are necessary to collect and carry away rainwater. Without them, water would erode the soil around the foundation, splash dirt onto the siding, and likely leak into the basement or crawlspace. Copper gutters can last 50 years or longer, especially if they are seamless. The average life span for aluminum gutters, the most popular material, is around 20 years.
Purchasing gutter guards with a full gutter system is a common practice for homeowners who want to get the most out of their home drainage system. According to our survey, 68% of respondents purchased their gutter guard system alongside a gutter installation. Rain gutters are necessary to protect your roof and prevent soil erosion. Water can damage your home’s foundation if you don’t have rain gutters.
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All products and services featured are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission. For fascia brackets, use solid wedges, like those from Classic Gutter Systems LLC. Their curved sidewalls allow half-rounds to drain more thoroughly than K-style.
Gutters can last anywhere from 10 to 100 years, depending on the type of gutter. Installation, maintenance, and climate can also affect how long gutters last on a house. As a general rule, the more expensive the gutters are, the longer they will last. Traditionally, gutters come in pre-cut sections that must be connected. The most common place for gutters to clog, sag, or leak is along the seams where two sections come together. Seamless are cut on-site to match the exact specifications of your home.
If it was installed correctly, that will tell you how things should be overlapped and help you determine the order in which to disassemble the parts. If you choose to hire this pro for your project, you'll agree on final pricing before any work begins - and you'll never pay before it's done. Jessica considers herself a home improvement and design enthusiast. She grew up surrounded by constant home improvement projects and owes most of what she knows to helping her dad renovate her childhood home.
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