When considering gutters there are some questions that should be answered before you pull the trigger on your gutter installation project. Should I install gutters? What type or size do I need? Who should I get to install my gutters? These are basic questions that come to mind while considering gutters. Let’s talk about the WHY, WHAT, and the WHO of gutters.
So, some reasons WHY you should consider installing gutters. The principal purpose to have gutters is the protection it gives to your home from water. Water can be a savior or a death nail. To a person in the desert water is salvation, but when it comes to your foundation, siding, windows, and interior of your home it is destruction. Uncontrolled water from the roof can be disastrous for a homeowner. Rainwater not properly directed can seep into the foundation, peek through vulnerable areas of your windows and siding, and when not properly installed or maintained, water from your gutters can back up into/under the roof and behind the fascia of the home causing rot.
Now that you know the why, lets talk about the WHAT. Gutters come in different sizes. The most common size gutter is the 5” gutter. This will typically be enough on most lower pitch houses. There is the 6” option which is the best option for steep roofs. Three principal things to consider when choosing which gutters to install. How steep is my roof? The steeper the roof the faster the water will shed into the gutters. It is impossible to capture and direct every drop of rain during a downpour but for most rains you can collect and move it away from your home. Typically, anything over a 7/12 pitch should have 6” gutters. The surface size of your roof and the slope are the main factors to consider when choosing which gutters to install. Also, most building contractors when building a new home will choose the standard 2” x 3” downspout. Wither you install 5” gutters or 6” gutters we would recommend always installing bigger downspouts to increase the gutter systems capacity to shed more water faster. One final thought before we move onto the who. The biggest problem I see with gutters is lack of maintenance. More times than not the issues derived from gutters are because they are full of foliage and are not being maintained. The most important thing you can do is to maintain the gutters and downspouts free of debris and without blockage. If you have trees around you then you should keep the gutters cleaned out regularly, or even consider a good quality gutter guard.
Finally, the last step of the process is to consider the WHO. When considering who to hire there are a few things to keep in mind. You should always choose a company with proper insurance, a good reputation, local, and professional. Pay attention to those red flags when interacting with companies. Remember red means stop. It’s not necessarily a deal breaker but at least stop and consider. It’s important that you protect your investment, “your home.” Make it make sense. Ask for insurance that protects your home and any possible incidents that may occur. Ask for references. Check out their reviews, and finally ask yourself the question is this who I want to do business with? Once you have answered these questions you are now ready to move forward with confidence to begin the process to hire a quality company prepared to help you with your new gutter project.
