Winter wind, cold, and snow can be brutal on your home, and your gutters are particularly vulnerable to the elements. Not all gutters stand up well to punishing winter weather, so if you’re not interested in replacing or repairing them in the spring, it pays to know which gutters are best for winter.
Why Gutters Choices Matter
Gutters play an integral role in keeping water away from your home. If you live in an area that gets all four seasons, you’d be wise to invest in gutters that are sturdy enough to handle the weight of ice and snow and wide enough to withstand heavy rainfall. Otherwise, you’ll discover a slew of roofing problems on the other side of winter.
Gutters are great at preventing:
- Water damage
- Mold
- Mildew
- Structural and foundational weakness
Water that fails to flow through your gutters properly will eventually freeze, resulting in ice dams forming on your roof. An ice dam is a block of ice that forms on the edge of a roof and prevents rainwater or melting snow from flowing off the roof. Ice dams can lead to leaks and structural damage to the entire roofing system.
Finding the best gutter system can be time-consuming, but it’s well worth the effort when all is said and done. To make things easier, we’ve compiled a list of the best gutter types for winter.
Best Gutter Styles for Winter
Half-Round Gutters
Half-round gutters have a smooth surface that allows snow to easily shift and melt. The water glides to the middle of the gutter and steadily flows down into the downspout and the ground.
Half-round gutters come in various materials, including:
- Copper
- Zinc
- Aluminum
- Vinyl
- Stainless steel
Zinc and copper gutters resist corrosion and rust, meaning their surface will remain intact and smooth despite the weather and passage of time.
K-Style Gutters
As the name might suggest, K-style gutters have a K shape that mimics the look of crown molding. Due to their flat bottom and sloped curve, snow can effortlessly shift to the bottom of the gutter and into the downspout for drainage.
Like half-round gutters, K-style gutters are available in many sizes, colors, and materials. For winter, we recommend installing 5- or 6-inch wide gutters that are sturdy enough to handle snow and rain. Plus, K-style gutters connect directly to fascia boards, so they can hold more weight than other gutter types.
Seamless Gutters
Also known as continuous gutters because of the lack of seams, seamless gutters are manufactured from a single piece of metal and customized to fit your home’s dimensions. They are available in materials such as steel, copper, vinyl, and aluminum, the same as sectional gutters.
Since there are no seams, your gutters will require minimal maintenance and will last longer. They also provide better curb appeal, and who doesn’t want that?
Best Gutter Materials for Winter
Copper
Copper is an excellent, albeit expensive, choice of gutter material that also comes in K-style. Because copper has a low thermal coefficient of expansion, it won’t crack or buckle like other gutter materials when it comes to sudden changes in temperature. Copper gutters can easily withstand the elements, whether you live in Ohio or Mississippi.
And let’s not forget that copper gutters have great corrosion resistance, often lasting decades longer than stainless steel or aluminum gutters.
Aluminum
Aluminum gutters fall somewhere in the middle of the resistance and durability spectrum. They are able to hold large quantities of snow and ice but corrode much easier than copper. On the other hand, aluminum lasts longer than weaker materials such as vinyl.
If your home has algae-resistant, copper-filled shingles or flashing, you should avoid aluminum gutters. Aluminum and copper react adversely with each other, causing corrosion in the aluminum. As the aluminum corrodes, cracks and holes can appear in the gutter, leading to costly repairs or replacements.
Steel
If steel is more what you’re looking for, you have two material options: stainless steel and galvanized steel. The main difference between the two types of steel is their resistance to rust and corrosion.
Stainless steel gutters are completely rust- and corrosion-resistant, lasting several decades. They are also versatile and can be painted to match the style of any home, but are more expensive. In contrast, galvanized steel gutters usually succumb to rust after about 20 years. Over time, drainage slows down as snow and ice catch on the rusted areas.
These differences aside, both types are highly durable and can tolerate heat, snow, hail, and wind without seeing much damage.
Vinyl (PVC)
Also known as PVC gutters, vinyl gutters are relatively inexpensive and simple to install. They also can be painted to match your home. The downside is that vinyl gutters have a shorter lifespan than metal ones, an important aspect to factor into your decision.
How To Protect Your Gutters From Ice and Snow
While most gutter systems can get through rainy, warmer months fairly well, they may need assistance for the cold months. Heavy snow and ice can damage your gutters, but thankfully there are ways to protect them from the elements.
Install Gutter Heaters
If you’re looking for an efficient way to halt the formation of icicles and ice dams, gutter heaters are a great solution. While there are various types available for purchase, the two main ones are:
- Self-regulating
- Thermostat-controlled
Self-regulating heaters have a conductive core that adjusts according to the surface temperature of your gutters. The lower the temperature, the more conductive the core and the more heat it generates.
On warm days, it turns off automatically, making it an efficient and low-maintenance method to melt the ice and snow in your gutters. Self-regulating heaters also have on/off switches, allowing homeowners the freedom to turn them on in winter and off in summer.
Thermostat-controlled heaters remain at the same constant temperature set on a thermostat controller; as a result, they end up using more power than self-regulating heaters. This variety is available in heat cable or heat tape form, which you can lay directly inside your gutters.
How do they work, you ask? The heat from the cable or tape keeps the gutters at a constant above-freezing temperature, easily melting snow and preventing ice formation. Since heat is involved, the application should be left to a professional team to prevent dangers that arise from DIY jobs.
Get Proper Attic Insulation and Ventilation
Improving your attic’s insulation and ventilation is another great way to sidestep gutter issues in the cold season. Equipping your attic with insulation creates an even temperature to melt the snow on your roof. As a bonus, your home will become more energy efficient. Likewise, proper ventilation prevents ice dam formation.
Use Gutter Brackets
Reinforcing your gutters with additional brackets can be beneficial in preventing drainage issues. To ensure your gutters don’t get weighed down by snow and ice, increase the number of brackets your gutters have in winter.
Clean Your Gutters
While regular gutter maintenance and cleaning is important all year, it’s downright critical in the wintertime. Keeping your gutters leaf- and debris-free will prevent poor water flow, blockages, pest infestations, and ice dams. We recommend two gutter cleanings a year (more if your property is surrounded by many trees).
Keep Nearby Trees Trimmed
Trees shed year-round and leaves that fall nearby somehow always find their way into your gutters. Mixed with small debris, twigs, ice, and snow, leaves can cause clogs and unpleasant surprises come winter. By trimming nearby trees, leaves are less likely to fall on your roof and in your gutters. Plus, snow and ice can sometimes cause branches to snap and damage your home’s drainage system.
Try De-Icers
If you live in an area that gets plenty of snow, de-icers might be a smart investment. These de-icing barriers are installed on your roof to melt any snow and ice that might otherwise slide down into your gutters. To prevent ice buildup, you can fill stockings with any de-icing compound and lay them across your rooftop. De-icers also can block weight buildup in your gutters, limiting sagging or collapsing.
Install Gutter Helmets (Or Gutter Protection)
As the name suggests, gutter helmets are literally helmets for your gutters. These curved gutter covers go directly on top of the gutters and the curvature stops before the gutter’s edge to allow proper water drainage. They can prevent leaf, snow, and ice clogs and significantly reduce gutter damage, maintenance time, and cleaning frequency.
FAQ About the Best Gutters for Winter
Copper gutters can last between 50 and 100 years, especially if they are seamless. But while a copper gutter is a quality gutter, it’ll cost more. As an alternative, aluminum gutters are a solid option that is relatively affordable and durable.
K-style gutters are the preferred gutter style among homeowners, suitable for both DIY and professional installations.
Black gutters tend to absorb more sunlight than white ones, a plus in the winter months. This can help melt snow at a much faster rate, preventing ice formation. And since black is a neutral color, it matches all siding materials and colors. However, one disadvantage of black gutters is how overpowering it can looks with certain color schemes.
When to Hire a Pro
Your gutters are an extension of your roof and should fit your needs from an efficiency, financial, and curb appeal standpoint. If you need new gutters or a thorough inspection to get ready for winter, we can connect you with a professional gutter installer. You won’t have to worry about a thing while they’ll handle your entire project with no fuss.
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