Rain gutters are important for the protection of your home. They direct rainwater and melted snow away from the base of your house so it cannot seep into the foundation and cause damage. If your house does not currently have gutters, you should talk to a professional about having them installed. If you have them but they are not working properly, a professional can tell you if they need to be replaced or if they can be repaired. Here are a few things you need to know about gutters so you can choose the right ones for your house.

Material

You can choose between aluminum, plastic, or copper gutters. Aluminum is both rust and corrosion-free, making it very durable and long-lasting. While plastic does not rust, it can corrode. In addition, changes in temperature can cause the plastic to crack or soften and become misshapen. Finally, copper gutters will look like copper for a year or two but will then begin to turn a greenish color. They will require a lot of maintenance if you want to keep them looking like copper. 

Seamless or Sectional

It is possible to have the gutters made right on your property in one long piece. This would be seamless gutters. Sectional gutters are just that; a bunch of sections that are slid together. Leaves, small pieces of roofing, and other debris can get trapped on the seams and create a blockage. When a section is blocked, the water backs up and flows over the edge of the gutter. This can cause a lot of damage to the edge of your roof, and the gutter will eventually fall off because the roof was damaged. Seamless gutters are a better option to keep the water flowing where it needs to go, but they are more expensive.

Downspouts

The downspout is the piece that dows down the side of your house. It is important that this piece is placed at an angle so that the bottom is not right against the house. In addition, there should be a piece of concrete at the base that will divert the water away from the house. Be sure that the ground is sloped away from the house to keep the water from backing back up to the foundation.

While you may be able to install sectional gutters yourself, it is always a good idea to have a professional residential gutter installation service do it. You want to be sure to have the right sized gutters placed in the right places to best protect your home. Unless you have experience with this, it is easy to make a mistake that will end up causing damage either to the roof or foundation of your home over time.

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