Gutters 101: Gutter Materials
Is your home dealing with gutter leaks or landscape erosion? Are you looking to revamp the look of your home? Well, you’ve come to the right place! Here, at A To Z Gutters, we understand the importance of having a quality gutter system to ensure water correctly drains away from your home’s foundation, preventing any potential water damage. Our aim is to provide complete customer satisfaction and to supply our customers with the proper knowledge when it comes to choosing the right gutter for their home.
We offer a variety of gutter profiles, sizes, and materials to best fit your needs. In this comprehensive guide, we will take a closer look at the different types of gutter materials and their pros and cons. So, let’s dive into the world of gutter materials and find the perfect fit for you!
Gutter Materials
Various materials can be used to manufacture gutters, such as aluminum, steel, vinyl, galvalume, copper, and even wood! Each material has its advantages and disadvantages, and, in this blog, we will highlight those characteristics to help you make an informed decision for your new gutter system!
Vinyl
Vinyl gutters are the most affordable option on the market and are very common DIY solutions sold at most hardware stores. They are a quick, temporary solution for a system that is rust and corrosion-resistant, making your gutters function for up to about 5 years. They are not recommended to be a permanent solution due to their poor weight-bearing capacity, low durability, and possible warping/distortion due to high temperatures. They can create a huge safety issue, so it is best to rely on a gutter professional’s opinion.
Aluminum
Aluminum is the most used gutter material available in the market today. This material is extremely lightweight, making installation quick and efficient while still being durable enough to last over twenty years with proper maintenance. Aluminum gutter aesthetics are highly versatile allowing homeowners to choose between 20+ colors, making them a customer favorite. Aluminum is also extremely corrosion resistant, keeping your home looking pristine for many years to come. The main disadvantage of aluminum gutters is their susceptibility to denting and surface damage. High temperatures, extreme weather conditions or sudden impacts can affect the function and look of aluminum gutters. This disadvantage is often ignored due to the high repairability of aluminum gutter systems when compared to steel or copper systems. All components in an aluminum system are easily interchangeable and most repairs can be done with a single service call. This is why, since their release in the 1960s, seamless aluminum gutters have grown to be the number one solution for most homeowners.
Galvanized Steel
Galvanized steel gutters on the other hand are exceptionally durable and strong enough to withstand extreme weather conditions and high temperatures. Steel is the toughest material we offer and is also easily customizable allowing you to choose your favorite look! Steel has some corrosion-resistance, albeit not as much as aluminum but it will take years to notice any rusting with proper maintenance. Nevertheless, steel gutters have their cons too. The weight of steel gutters can pose many challenges during the installation process. It is imperative to have proper, rigid support and reinforcement for the gutters and downspouts to prevent any accidents in the future. Due to its high rigidity, steel gutters and downspouts require lots of custom sheet metal work to ensure an efficient system, often leading to a higher price tag.
Galvalume Steel
Galvalume steel is made with the perfect mix of steel and aluminum properties which provides both high strength and corrosion resistance. It is created by applying a protective coating of aluminum to the steel’s exterior, protecting the more delicate interior. Due to their unique properties, galvalume gutters last longer than aluminum and steel gutters. Like galvanized steel, galvalume gutters can be more expensive when compared to aluminum gutters due to the installation difficulty and the fact that it does not allow for much versatility.
Copper
Copper is a high-end gutter material that can have a lifespan of 60 to 100 years with proper maintenance! Copper gutters can completely transform a home’s appearance! They are highly durable but require an extremely thorough installation, as each seam in the system must be properly soldered to ensure a long lifespan. Not only is copper the longest lasting gutter material, but it is also regarded as the most aesthetically pleasing, giving your home a truly distinguished look. When installed, the gutters are a glossy penny color but over time the copper color fades, leaving a darker, bronzed color. Additionally, copper gutters are low-maintenance and can even help prevent the growth of algae or mold. The main drawback for homeowners on copper gutters is usually the price since the initial cost is considerably higher when compared to the other materials due to the high material costs and the detailed installation process that is required. A copper gutter system is one of a kind and when properly maintained, can last a lifetime.
Choosing the Right Gutter
Now that you are an expert on the different gutter materials in the market, you are ready to make an informed decision for your new gutter system! Having a reliable and effective gutter system is crucial for protecting your home from a multitude of issues. At A To Z Gutters, we offer a wide range of services covering all of your gutter and drainage needs. If you are ready to get the best gutter system in the neighborhood, make the call today. Our team is here to help!
