Why do homes need gutters? Why is it important to inspect and maintain the home’s gutter system? What are the types of gutters a homeowner can choose between? It is important to have a gutter system to manage the water coming down in the form of rain. Rain can dump hundreds of gallons of water on the roof and siding of a house and go down to damage the home’s foundation. Lack of functioning gutters can cause basement leaks, eroded soil around the home, and damaged siding and windows.
Maintaining Existing Gutter Systems
It is not enough to install a gutter system. That gutter system needs to be maintained with fall and spring cleaning and repairs as needed. Damaged, clogged gutters can cause damage to the home’s siding, peeling paint on siding, staining on siding, and improper run-off of water from the base of a house.
Cleaning gutters can be a very daunting task if the homeowner attempts it themselves. Climbing up on a ladder with a trowel or other cleaning equipment can be risky. After the debris is scooped out of the gutters and a hose is used to finish cleaning them out, it is often necessary to clean the debris off the siding and from around the base of the house.
If the homeowner is not physically able to climb ladders, the task can be even harder and more of a mess made. But, there are very good gutter cleaning services that take gutter cleaning very seriously. They clean the gutters thoroughly and leave no mess behind. Then they give the homeowner a report on the condition of their gutter system. But, before contacting any commercial gutter cleaning company, it’s vital you check that they offer the specific service you require and have fantastic reviews from previous clients.
Gutter Cleaning Without Ladders and Home Damage
A new way to clean gutters is with a vacuum system that is used from ground level rather than climbing on a ladder. All the gunk, leaves, and debris is sucked into a big flexible tubing and into the tank of a truck. This gutter vacuum truck system is more effective and safer than older methods. Rather than using blowers or other equipment to remove the debris from gutters and onto the ground, this method sucks debris into a tank truck with no mess around the house at all.
Gutter cleaning services have the equipment to clean gutters quickly and efficiently without risk of injury. Because they do the work quickly, their charges are reasonable. The homeowner saves time and work by leaving this messy job to professionals.
Gutter System Repair and Replacement
When the professionals are cleaning gutter systems, they are also inspecting them for damage and for how well they are functioning, and for missing parts like downspouts. The gutter cleaning trucks carry some common parts needed for repairing gutters. So, the gutter cleaning service can repair and update older gutter systems the same day they do the cleaning. They can add missing downspouts or downspout filters.
A gutter system not only needs to catch rainwater, but it also needs to direct that water away from the house to a spot where it will not do any damage to the home foundation. This system of directing water away from the house can also be added to update the gutter system.
When There is No Gutter System, Or a Badly Damaged Gutter System
When a home is missing a gutter system or has a non-functioning gutter system, the homeowner needs to choose a new gutter system. There are choices in materials and shapes of gutters.
There are a number of parts making up a proper gutter system. They include:
· The running gutter pieces or sections
· Hangers are strips of metal used to support the bottom edges of the gutter and prevent sagging.
· Downspouts run vertically down the corner of the house to carry water.
· Downspout elbows that connect to the bottom of the downspout and carry water away from the house.
· Pipe cleats secure the downspout to the house.
· End caps seal the end of the length of the gutter.
· Ferrules are hollow shafts that cover long screws attaching the gutter lengths to the house.
· Mitered corners might be needed to fit the gutter to the corner of a house.
There are 8 Types of Gutters
There are different types, shapes, and materials for gutters and each has good and bad points.
· There are K-style gutters that are common and mimic the crown moldings on houses. They have a flat back that fits against the wall of the house. They come in 5″ and 6″ sizes. This style is inexpensive and easy to install. They come in 10-foot lengths.
· Half-round gutters are more commonly used on historic homes and can be made of copper. The half-round shape is smooth and will be less likely to corrode. They are installed with special brackets and can be fairly heavy.
· Box Style gutters are oversized and most often used on commercial buildings where large amounts of water must be managed. They need to be installed during building construction. They come in 7″ and 8″ sizes.
· Vinyl gutters are cheap and easy to install for homeowners wanting DIY projects. They bend and are affected by the UV rays of the sun. Vinyl gutters are not available in many colors. They will n to last as long as metal gutters.
· Aluminum gutters are reasonable in cost and lightweight. They resist rust and are easy to install. Aluminum gutters are available in multiple color options.
· Stainless steel gutters or galvanized steel gutters are strong and long-lasting. They are very heavy and are expensive. they are also prone to rust.
· Copper gutters are very attractive and up=scale looking but they are expensive. They come in heavier gauge than aluminum and are long-lasting.
· Wood gutters are more historic and are made of redwood or douglas fir that has been milled into half-round gutters.
Every gutter style and material has its benefits and problems. It is important to work with a professional gutter installing company with experts who can help the homeowner choose the right style and material of gutter system for their style and age of the home. Once the gutter system is properly installed with drainage away from the house, it is important to maintain the system in the spring and fall.
I did not know about all these types of gutters. I found this article to be very interesting.
I didn’t even know there were so many kinds of gutters. I live in an HOA and they take care of the gutters. I like the idea of the vacuum system.
We so need to put new gutters up and this post wast super informative to me. I had no idea that there were eight different types of gutters lots to consider.