What Homeowners Need to Know About Gutter Costs

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.