Gutter installation is a lot trickier than it seems, which is why it’s better to entrust this work to an experienced professional than attempt it yourself. Going the DIY route may save you money on the front end, but any mistakes you make could result in serious water damage to your property, costing you more in the long run. Here are some common mistakes made by homeowners who attempt to install their own gutters:… Continue Reading
The type of gutter hanger your gutter contractor uses to mount your gutters is just as important as the type of gutters you install. If you choose the wrong gutter hanger, it may not be able to provide enough support, which could cause sections of your gutters to sag. … Continue Reading
Like your gutters, your downspouts play a critical role in diverting precipitation away from your home. Functional downspouts are essential in protecting your home and landscape from water damage.
In this blog, Barry Best Seamless Gutters, an experienced provider of gutter installation in Syracuse, NY, shares a comprehensive look common downspout problems, and how to troubleshoot them.
Your gutters may not be the most glamorous component of your home’s exterior, but the role they play in protecting your property from water damage cannot be overstated. Unfortunately, even the best types of gutters eventually succumb to the effects of wear and tear from constant exposure to the elements. If you’re wondering about why your gutters are corroding, you’ve come to the right place.
In today’s post, Barry Best Seamless Gutters discusses what causes gutter corrosion and how, with the help of an experienced gutter contractor, you can avoid this issue.
There are several different materials gutters can be made from, each with pros and cons. The performance and longevity of the gutter system will depend to a large extent on the quality of the material and how well it’s suited to your local climate, which is why it’s important to familiarize yourself with the options. By doing your homework, you’ll also gain insight into how to properly care for the gutter material of your choice to avoid corrosion.
Vinyl
Vinyl is one of the most popular gutter materials for residential properties due to its attractive price point and straightforward design. Vinyl gutters and gutter covers are lightweight and easy to install–though the installation should always be handled by an experienced professional. One downside is that vinyl gutters are prone to cracking, especially if you live in a cold climate.
Aluminum
Like vinyl, aluminum is also lightweight, easy to install and affordable. One advantage over vinyl is that aluminum gutters won’t crack when exposed to the cold. On the downside, some aluminum gutters of lower quality are easily dented or bent when accidentally hit with a ladder or other object. The good news is that premium, unrecycled aluminum gutters are quite sturdy and resistant to denting.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel gutters come with a slightly higher price tag than vinyl and aluminum. Nevertheless, stainless steel remains one of the top choices when it comes to residential gutters due to its durability. If you want sturdy gutters that will look good and remain intact for a long time, stainless steel gutters are a worthy investment.
While advances in modern technology and product development have made the gutter materials of today more durable and resistant to the elements, gutter corrosion is still a prevalent issue. The exceptions are gutters made from copper and wood. Here are the top reasons behind gutter corrosion:
Inappropriate Storage Method
Many people think gutter corrosion only begins once the gutters have been installed, but the truth is corrosion can begin long before you hire your gutter contractor. How your gutters were stored prior to installation plays a role in how well they will resist corrosion. Ideally, metal gutters should be stored in a clean facility that keeps the elements out. When storing gutter sections, make sure that they are laid flat, with padding to separate the stacked sections. These measures will help ensure that your gutters are in good pre-installation condition.
Improper Handling
Whether you’re a homeowner taking stock of your gutter material options at your local hardware store or a property manager waiting for your preferred gutter installation company to deliver your new gutters, the gutter product you purchase is at the mercy of the contractor or manufacturer transporting it. Any dents, scrapes or scratches sustained during transportation will weaken the structural integrity of the material and can make way for future corrosion.
When handling or transporting gutters, padded and covered cradles are highly recommended. Each component should be separated with proper padding material so the parts don’t touch and scrape each other.
Faulty Installation
Gutter installation is a complex process that only experienced professionals should perform. Improper installation due to inexperience or lack of knowledge about the right techniques to use increase the likelihood of the gutter material being damaged. Apart from the dents and scratches caused by haphazard handling, you risk metal gutter corrosion when other components of the gutters, aren’t installed properly.
For example, gutters need to be secured in place using brackets. These brackets shouldn’t penetrate the surface of the gutters. Otherwise, the protective coating that prevents corrosion will get scraped off, leaving your gutters vulnerable. Extreme caution should also be exercised when choosing the hardware. Note that if your gutters are made of aluminum, only aluminum brackets and screws should be used to avoid galvanic corrosion.
A Quick Look at Galvanic Corrosion
When two different types of metal come into contact with each other, as in roofing or gutter protection system assemblies, an adverse reaction takes place due to the difference in the composition of the two metals. This is an entire topic on its own, but the bottom line is that like metals should be installed with similar metals to prevent corrosion.
Exposure
The main function of the gutters is to ensure water is directed away from your property. Gutters are on the job day in and day out, and not just when it’s raining. The constant exposure to the elements takes a toll over time. Metal gutters are especially susceptible to corrosion when they are exposed to acidic rainwater, which is abundant in industrial regions.
There’s not much that you can do to avoid corrosion due to environmental causes, but you can make sure that your gutters have a fighting chance against all the other causes of corrosion. One way to do so is by regularly cleaning out your gutters. Organic debris such as leaves can make it difficult for the water to flow out of your gutters. Prolonged exposure to moisture speeds up corrosion, so make sure you keep your gutters clog-free at all times.
As for handling, transporting and installation, the best way to ensure that these are done right is to hire a gutter contractor that you can rely on, such as Barry Best Seamless Gutters. We have the proper tools, knowledge and techniques needed for a successful gutter installation.
Keep these things in mind when considering your gutter material (and gutter contractor) choices. Remember that corroding or corroded gutters aren’t only an eyesore; they indicate a serious structural issue that needs to be addressed right away.
Gutters are incredibly important, but they are often overlooked by homeowners. Your gutters catch rainwater flowing off your roof and redirect this water to your downspouts. The downspouts then deposit this water a safe distance away from your home. Problems with this process can cause costly water damage to your property.
For instance, clogged and overflowing gutters can lead to damage on your roof, siding and landscaping. If there’s a problem with your downspouts then rainwater might saturate the soil surrounding your foundation. This wet soil can then put tremendous amounts of pressure on your foundation, causing it to crack. As the leading gutter contractor in Dewitt, NY, we strongly recommend paying attention to your gutters and keeping them in good condition.
If your gutter system is old or is in bad shape, then you need to get new gutters as soon as possible. In today’s article, we explain what you need to know about gutter costs. We discuss the factors that affect the cost of gutters and outline your various options. We also explain how we can help you with your gutter project.
Factors That Affect the Costs of Your Project
The costs for your gutter replacement project will depend on several key factors. First, there’s the cost of the material. Gutters can be manufactured out of many different materials, each of which has its own distinct advantages and disadvantages. In general, you’ll get what you pay for. As the top expert in gutters and gutter covers in Syracuse, we recommend choosing the best gutter material that your budget will allow. Next, there’s the cost of labor. Labor costs are often location dependent and they can be affected by your roof’s design and structure.
The larger and more complicated your roof is, the higher the cost of the labor to install your new gutters. We don’t necessarily recommend hiring the gutter company that offers the lowest bid. Keep in mind that the quality of your gutter installation has a major impact on your new gutters’ lifespan, durability and performance. Mistakes during this installation process can cause water damage to your home, so you need to hire an experienced, reputable contractor for your project.
Finally, you’ll need to pay for the hangers, downspout extensions, flashing, splash blocks, splash drains, disposal and a few other miscellaneous items depending on the type of gutters you install. As the leading expert in gutter protection in Hamilton, NY, we also recommend taking this opportunity to install a gutter protection system for your home. This will add to the costs of your project, but it is worth it. A gutter protection system can drastically reduce your gutter maintenance requirements and prevent your gutters from clogging.
Gutter Materials
We’ll provide a brief overview of the pros and cons of various gutter materials available. Vinyl gutters are the most affordable option and you can buy them at most stores. This makes them an attractive choice for homeowners who like DIY projects. Unfortunately, vinyl is not very durable. It can crack in cold weather and melt under long-term sun exposure. Vinyl gutters are also installed in sections as opposed to seamlessly. We don’t recommend gutters with joints and sections because they are more likely to clog.
Another option is steel. Tougher than vinyl, steel gutters can hold a lot of weight. You can depend on steel gutters to handle heavy rains. Unfortunately, steel rusts, which is a big problem for something that’s supposed to contain a lot of water. You will have to check your steel gutters regularly and maintain them frequently.
Aluminum gutters are a popular choice among homeowners. Aluminum is lightweight, tough and durable and it doesn’t rust like steel. However, aluminum can crack with rapid temperature changes so aluminum gutters still require periodic inspections and maintenance. They also dent and bend easily.
Copper is a premium gutter material. It’s the material of choice for homeowners who want the absolute best gutters for their homes. Copper is incredibly durable and beautiful and it won’t rust. Copper also ages beautifully. As the years pass, it develops a beautiful blue-green patina. We recommend copper gutters for homeowners who want their homes to be historically authentic.
Seamless Gutters vs. Ordinary Gutters
During your gutter replacement project, you’ll probably have to choose between seamless gutters and sectional gutters. Installed in sections that are joined together and sealed, sectional gutters are vulnerable to leaks due to the amount of joints and seams they contain. These areas are where leaks are most likely to form. Sectional gutters also clog more easily because leaves and debris can easily get caught in the joints and seams.
Seamless gutters won’t have any of those problems. Made from a single piece of metal, seamless gutters don’t have any joints or seams. They are much less likely to clog and leak. Seamless gutters are also guaranteed to be a better fit for your home as they are custom made to conform to your home’s specific measurements. In our opinion, the extra cost of seamless gutters is worth it for the superior performance.
Why You Should Install Gutter Helmet®
Barry Best Seamless Gutters can install a high-quality gutter protection system for your home: Gutter Helmet®. This product is an excellent investment because it can complement our seamless gutters and make gutter clogs a thing of the past. Unlike mesh screens and other gutter protection systems, Gutter Helmet completely covers your gutters. It has no vertical openings, so there’s no place for leaves, dirt and other debris to enter the gutters.
Leaves and other debris will just stay on top of Gutter Helmet until the rain washes them away. If you choose to install this gutter protection system, you’ll no longer have to worry about cleaning your gutters. Your gutters will also perform better and last longer because of the reduced chance of gutter clogs and leaks.
How does water enter your gutter system then? The answer is simple. Gutter Helmet takes advantage of the principle of surface tension. The product is designed in such a way that water clings to its surface, follows the curve of the gutter cover and enters a horizontal gap. This innovative design has proven to be quite effective. You can rely on Gutter Helmet even under strong winds and heavy rains.
Gutter Helmet is installed over heavy-gauge aluminum gutters and can actually strengthen your gutter system. This product can fit over existing or new gutters and it comes in a wide range of colors and designs. Gutter Helmet can blend with your roofline as it is virtually unnoticeable. As an official Gutter Helmet dealer, we can also back our Gutter Helmet installation with a strong warranty.
Barry Best Seamless Gutters can install a high-quality gutter system for your home. Our services and products can protect your home from water damage for years to come. We have been in business for decades, and we have served countless satisfied customers. Our team knows how to handle any kind of gutter problem. We’ll take the time to answer all your questions and understand all your needs before providing you with a customized gutter solution.
