Gutters play a critically important role in protecting our homes from water damage and debris that falls with heavy rains. Whether you’re building a unique dream home, improving your current home, or shopping for a home in the real estate market, making sure your gutters are up to par is crucial.
Keep reading to learn more about the top five gutter styles suggested by Gutter Supply experts to help you maintain your home.
What Are the Top 5 Gutter Styles?
The top gutter styles, according to experts at Gutter Supply, are:
K-Style Gutters
These are the most common style of gutter and also the easiest to install — great news for DIYers! The K-style gutter comes in five to six-inch widths.
K-style gutter downspouts are rectangular-shaped. Their flat backs mean they can be nailed directly to fascia boards without using additional brackets.
The one downfall to this type of gutter is they can be harder to clean than other types of gutter, because their inner angles tend to accumulate a large volume of debris, like leaves and sticks.
Half-Round Gutters
The semi-circle design of these gutters gives them round downspouts, making the inside smoother than K-style gutters. This can improve their durability and prevent corrosion. They also require less maintenance than K-style gutters and don't leak as frequently.
You will most likely see this kind of gutter in homes built before 1960. They are a very aesthetically pleasing gutter choice, providing a classic and elegant look to any home.
Custom Fascia Gutters
As their name suggests, this type of gutter is custom-made. Another unique attribute is they are made out of one solid piece of aluminum. However, this means they must be installed by a professional and cannot be DIYed. Of course, that means they cost a pretty penny, but are well worth it for their beauty and efficiency. These gutters are extremely functional and secure. They do an excellent job at channeling moisture away from the home or building in order to protect the roof and foundation.
Valley Gutters
Some roofs, especially those on Victorian-style homes, have multiple ridges and peaks and often include a valley gutter where the edges of the roof meet. This gutter can be built directly into the roof’s seam. Alternatively, a concrete or iron gutter may be added.
Valley gutters direct water and debris toward the roof’s main gutter system, preventing it from pooling up in the roof’s ridges, peaks, and valleys.
Because of its complexity, this style of gutter does require a bit more cleaning and upkeep than other kinds.
Box-Style Gutters
You will often see this type of gutter used on commercial buildings because of its durability and size. But, they are not out of the question for homeowners looking for seirous gutter protection.
These oversized gutters are intended to handle very heavy rainfall, so people living in the Pacific Northwest and other areas of heavy rain may opt to have box-style gutters installed in their homes.
Often available in seven and eight-inch widths, these gutters can also be as large as 10 inches.
These gutters come in seven and eight-inch widths, and some can even be as large as 10 inches. It’s important that your roof is big enough to accommodate these larger widths.
Box-style gutters are made with durable materials and, therefore, will protect your home from water damage, leaks, and sagging for many years to come. They are also very stylish.
Custom Built
These gutters can only be installed when a home or office building is being built, according to experts at Gutter Supply. That's because instead of hanging on the edge of the roof like other kinds of gutters, they are tucked under the shingles.
Quick Facts About Gutter Materials
As you can tell by now, gutters come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and materials. Here are some quick facts about the materials they are commonly made out of:
- Aluminum is the most popular material for gutters in areas of heavy rain.
- Vinyl is the cheapest choice, as well as the easiest to install.
- Zinc gutters are expensive but will last a very long time.
Although the many different gutter options may seem overwhelming, the good news is you don't have to go at it alone. A gutter professional can sit down with you and help you decide the perfect style of gutters to protect your home and that works with your budget.
