Gutters aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution. They come in various materials, shapes, and sizes, and for the best performance, you should choose a gutter depending on your climate. But how? Read more to find out.
Best Gutters for Hot Climate
If you live in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, or one of the other brutally hot Southern states, you know it rains like crazy during the summer, and you will need gutters that can handle extensive water flow while also holding up to the heat. For example, intense, prolonged heat can warp or crack thin vinyl (plastic) gutters, so you should consider materials that weather the heat better.
K-style stainless steel gutters are the best option for hot areas. If you are on a tight budget, you can opt for aluminum gutters, but keep in mind that they may warp over time because of heat.
If you live on the coast, don’t choose zinc gutters, as the salty air can cause permanent stains on them, damaging their appearance. You can, however, install copper gutters.
Best Gutters for Heavy Rain
If you live in a rainy region, you should choose structurally strong gutters to handle excessive water flow. K-style aluminum, stainless steel, copper, and zinc gutters are all great options for rainy regions, as they can handle all sorts of storms. As for the size, choose 6-inch gutters as they hold more water.
If the size of your roof is over 8,000 adjusted square feet or you have a tile roof, we recommend you consider 7- or 8-inch box-style gutters to handle the excess water runoff.
Best Gutters for Snowy Climate
If you live in a snowy region, you should install heat cables to prevent the water on your gutters from freezing. If the water freezes, it won’t drain properly, causing water damage to your home. Besides gutters, you should also install heat cables on your roof to prevent ice dam formation.
As for the gutters, we recommend you choose 6-inch K-style aluminum, stainless steel, copper, or zinc gutters, as they all are structurally strong enough to handle heavy snow.
Types of Gutters
First, let’s discuss different types of rain gutters so it will be easier to choose one based on the climate.
Gutters are classified based on their:
- Material
- Shape
- Size
Material
1. Vinyl
Vinyl is a widely used gutter material as it’s affordable, lightweight, and easy to install. It doesn’t rust and dent like some metals, but it’s structurally not as strong and may break if a tree limb falls on it. The good news is that even if a section breaks, it’s easy to replace.
Vinyl gutters typically last between 15 and 20 years, depending on how you maintain them. They come in many colors and cost between $3 and $10 per linear foot.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Easy to install
- Low maintenance
- Rust-resistant
- Many color options
Cons:
- Structurally weak
- Shorter lifespan
2. Aluminum
Aluminum is the most popular gutter material. It’s lighter than vinyl while being structurally stronger. It also doesn’t rust easily, but it can. Aluminum can easily last over 25 years and costs between $5 and $15 per linear foot.
If you can stretch your budget slightly, we strongly recommend you consider aluminum gutters over vinyl, as they are better in all aspects. Aluminum gutters come in various colors, so you can choose one that matches the appearance of your home.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Easy to install
- Durable
- Low maintenance
- Corrosion-resistant
- Many color options
Cons:
- Can bend or dent
3. Galvanized Steel
Galvanized steel is structurally strong and can resist physical damage better than aluminum. Galvanized steel gutters have a zinc coating that prevents them from rusting. But as the coating fades, the gutters will start to rust.
Galvanized steel gutters cost between $8 and $20 per linear foot and have an average lifespan of 20 years. If you want a structurally strong gutter at an affordable price, galvanized steel is the best choice. Galvanized steel gutters are heavy, which makes them difficult to install.
Pros:
- Structurally strong
- Attractive appearance
- Low maintenance
Cons:
- Difficult to install
- Shorter lifespan
- Rusts more quickly
4. Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is structurally stronger than galvanized steel and doesn’t rust. Stainless steel gutters easily last over 50 years but cost between $20 and $30 per linear foot, making them significantly more expensive than galvanized steel.
Stainless steel gutters look great on contemporary-style homes. They are heavy, so professional installation is recommended.
Pros:
- Durable
- Low maintenance
- Long-lasting
- Rust-resistant
- Attractive appearance
Cons:
- Expensive
- Difficult to install
5. Copper
Copper is a premium gutter material that doesn’t bend, rust, or warp. It’s the most durable of all materials and can last 100 years or even more, depending on how you maintain it. Copper gutters typically cost between $30 and $40 per linear foot, making them the most expensive of all gutters.
Copper gutters can give your home an elegant appearance. As the copper oxidizes, the gutters will develop a blue-green patina, which looks even better and can make your home stand out in your neighborhood. Copper gutters are heavy and require professional installation.
Pros:
- Structurally strong
- Long-lasting
- Attractive appearance
- Low maintenance
- Rust-proof
Cons:
- Difficult to install
- Very expensive
6. Zinc
Zinc is another premium gutter material that’s structurally strong and doesn’t rust. Zinc gutters require little maintenance and can easily last over 80 years. They cost between $30 and $35 per linear foot.
Zinc gutters look great, especially as they age. They are heavy, which makes them difficult to install.
Pros:
- Long-lasting
- Durable
- Rust-resistant
- Attractive appearance
- Low maintenance
Cons:
- Difficult to install
- Expensive
Shape
1. K-Style Gutters
K-style gutters look good and carry more water than half-round and custom-built fascia gutters, thanks to their deeper troughs. The sides of these gutters resemble the letter ‘K,’ thus the reason for their name.
Since K-style gutters have deeper troughs, they collect more debris and are difficult to clean. To avoid this issue, we strongly recommend you install a gutter guard.
2. Half-Round Gutters
Half-round gutters have a U-shaped appearance, which makes them look great on vintage homes. But since they aren’t as deep, water can overflow from them. If you live in a rainy region, we recommend you avoid these gutters.
Half-round gutters have curved sides, so you will need brackets to install them on the fascia board.
3. Custom-Built Fascia Gutters
Fascia gutters are custom-built for your home and are attached to the fascia board. They are usually seamless, so you don’t have to worry about leaky gutter joints. Custom-built fascia gutters don’t hold as much water as K-style gutters, but they look better. They also cost twice as much.
4. Box-Style Gutters
Box-style gutters are commonly used in apartments and industrial buildings. They are larger, starting at 7 inches wide, and can hold more water. If you live in a mansion, you will most likely require these gutters to handle the water runoff from your massive roof.
Note: K-style, half-round, fascia, and box-style gutters are available in all materials. So the choice of gutter material is entirely yours.
Seamed vs. Seamless Gutters
Seamed gutters, also known as sectional gutters, are installed in sections, which makes them more prone to leaks on seams where each section is connected. But the advantage to this is that if a section is damaged, you can only replace it and don’t have to replace the entire piece. Seamed gutters are also easier to install.
Seamless gutters come in a single piece, which makes them more durable and less prone to leaks. But they are harder to install. These gutters are usually custom-made, which makes them more expensive. If a section of seamless gutters is damaged, you will need to replace the entire piece.
Size
Gutters do their job effectively only if they are of the right size. Undersized gutters overflow and cause water damage to your home’s foundation, defying the purpose of installing a gutter system. Oversized gutters are expensive and look unsightly.
The size of the gutters can vary depending on the shape.
- K-style and half-round gutters come in 5- and 6-inch sizes.
- Box-style gutters range in size from 6 to 10 inches. We recommend you choose them only if your home needs a gutter larger than 7 inches, as box-style gutters don’t look good on smaller homes.
Note: To determine the right gutter size, you will need to measure your roof and find the adjusted square feet. Here’s a detailed gutter sizing guide that can help you with it.
How to Size Downspouts
Downspouts flush the water from your gutters to the ground into the drainage system. You should install a downspout for every 30 feet of gutters for proper water drainage.
Like gutters, the downspouts should be rightly sized for water to flow through freely. Here’s how to size downspouts.
- K-style gutters: If you have a 5-inch gutter, choose a 2×3-inch rectangular downspout. If you have a 6-inch gutter, choose a 3×4-inch rectangular downspout.
- Half-round gutters: Round downspouts look best on half-round gutters. They are available in 3-, 4-, 5-, and 6-inch diameters, and 6-inch ones go well with 5- and 6-inch gutters.
- Box-style gutters: You can install a 4×5-inch rectangular downspout for 7- and 8-inch box-style gutters. If you have 9- or 10-inch box-style gutters, we recommend you install an extra downspout for every 30 feet of gutters.
FAQs
We strongly recommend professional installation if you haven’t worked on gutters before. If you don’t install gutters correctly, the water won’t drain properly and can cause soil erosion, foundation damage, and basement flooding.
Gutter guards reduce debris buildup on your gutters, so you don’t have to clean them often. They also prevent pest infestations, rust formation, and mold growth, thus increasing the lifespan of your gutters.
Experts suggest cleaning gutters at least twice a year, during early spring and late fall. If you have installed gutter guards, cleaning your gutters once in late fall is sufficient.
Make Your Decision and Hire a Pro
Gutters come in various materials, shapes, and sizes. For optimal performance, you should choose one depending on your climate. K-style stainless steel and copper gutters perform well in all weather conditions but are expensive. Aluminum gutters are a more affordable option, but they can warp in hot weather.
If you live in a rainy region, don’t go for a gutter size smaller than 6 inches. If you live in a mansion, you may need to consider 7- or 8-inch box-style gutters to handle water runoff from the roof.
If you have trouble choosing the right gutter for your home, contact our gutter pros. We can also help you with gutter installation, repair, and maintenance.
Main Image Credit: Andy Dean Photography / Canva Pro / License
