Gutters
By: Amanda Campbell
Updated: September 6, 2011
WHY USE GUTTERS?
Gutters are an essential part of protecting your home from water damage. Typically, a gutter system has three parts: gutters, drop outlets and downspouts.
They serve several important functions:
Keeping rainfall away from your foundation.
Keeping the rain off your wood fascia board and away from the any other wood
attached to the house where water might run off.
A well-maintained gutter system is something that no homeowner can afford to go without!
WHAT GUTTERS ARE BEST FOR MY HOME AND WHAT SIZES AND STYLES ARE THEY AVAILABLE IN?
Gutters come in a variety of sizes and styles. The diameter you will need depends on considerations like the pitch of your roof and the amount of rainfall your area receives. Basically, you need to make sure that your gutter is wide enough to catch water as it flows off your roof and to be able to handle heavy rainfall when necessary.
There are 3 main styles of gutters. K Style gutters have a squared-off bottom, and are especially well-suited to roofs with flat vertical edges, like those found in Colonial-style homes. Once installed, they look like crown molding, so they complement the exterior of older homes.
Half round gutters have a rounded bottom and a traditional look. High-back or apron gutters are designed for cold areas where ice is a problem, and can be either K Style or Half Round. With high-back gutters, the gutter apron is part of the gutter, so ice can't get stuck between the gutter and the flashing.
You also have many materials to choose from, including aluminum, copper, lead coated copper, galvanized steel, paint-grip steel and more.
Gutters are an essential part of protecting your home from water damage. Typically, a gutter system has three parts: gutters, drop outlets and downspouts.
They serve several important functions:
Keeping rainfall away from your foundation.
Keeping the rain off your wood fascia board and away from the any other wood
attached to the house where water might run off.
A well-maintained gutter system is something that no homeowner can afford to go without!
WHAT GUTTERS ARE BEST FOR MY HOME AND WHAT SIZES AND STYLES ARE THEY AVAILABLE IN?
Gutters come in a variety of sizes and styles. The diameter you will need depends on considerations like the pitch of your roof and the amount of rainfall your area receives. Basically, you need to make sure that your gutter is wide enough to catch water as it flows off your roof and to be able to handle heavy rainfall when necessary.
There are 3 main styles of gutters. K Style gutters have a squared-off bottom, and are especially well-suited to roofs with flat vertical edges, like those found in Colonial-style homes. Once installed, they look like crown molding, so they complement the exterior of older homes.
Half round gutters have a rounded bottom and a traditional look. High-back or apron gutters are designed for cold areas where ice is a problem, and can be either K Style or Half Round. With high-back gutters, the gutter apron is part of the gutter, so ice can't get stuck between the gutter and the flashing.
You also have many materials to choose from, including aluminum, copper, lead coated copper, galvanized steel, paint-grip steel and more.
