To select the best type of gutters for your home, consider both design and functionality. You should also account for your regional climate, your home’s architectural style, and your personal preferences for maintenance and aesthetics.
You might be surprised to discover just how many types of gutters there are. This guide will help you understand the different gutter styles, what they’re made from and how they’re installed.
What are the main types of gutters?
Whether you’re replacing worn-out gutters or installing a fresh set of gutters on a new home, choosing the type that best fits your home’s needs will help protect your home’s foundation and enhance its value.
Here are the different types of gutters you can choose:
K-style gutters
K-style gutters are known for their decorative, crown-molding-like design. They work well on modern and traditional homes, and their flat backs and bottoms make them easy to mount directly onto your roof’s fascia board.
K-style gutters have a high capacity for water flow and are particularly well-suited for regions with a lot of rainfall. On the downside, the angles and corners that give them their distinctive look tend to collect leaves and debris, which means they require more consistent cleaning and maintenance than some other types of gutters.
This style of gutter is relatively cheap, costing between $2 and $6 per foot, on average, based on prices from Home Depot. Vinyl and aluminum are the two most popular materials for K-style gutters, with vinyl being the cheaper option.
Box-style gutters
Box-style gutters are more commonly seen on industrial or commercial buildings but can also be used on residential properties. These gutters don’t have the flashy look of K-style gutters; they give your home a minimalist, contemporary feel. They work best on homes with a modern aesthetic.
Like K-style gutters, box-style gutters are designed to handle large amounts of water, which makes them an excellent option if your area has high annual rainfall. Unlike K-style gutters, box-style gutters are usually concealed within the structure of your roof. This makes them less visible from the street and offers a sleek look that some homeowners find appealing.
One downside to box-style gutters is that the installation is more involved if your home wasn’t built with them in mind. Retrofitting box-style gutters can be complex and expensive since it almost always requires changing your roof’s existing structure.
These gutters are a bit more expensive than K-style gutters, costing roughly $5 to $16 per linear foot based on prices from Royal Gutter Supply, Classic Gutter Systems, and K&M Sheet Metal and Gutter Supply. Like K-style gutters, your chosen material will influence the gutter installation cost, with aluminum being the least expensive and copper being the most expensive.
Half-round gutters
Half-round gutters have a semicircular profile, making them aesthetically pleasing, less likely to clog and easier to clean. These gutters are often made from materials such as copper, aluminum or steel. They add a traditional charm to older and historical homes, but they can look out of place on homes with more modern designs.
The primary downside of half-round gutters is that they don’t carry as much water as K-style or box-style gutters. They also usually need more elaborate support systems, such as specialized hangers or brackets, which can complicate installation and make the job more expensive.
Another disadvantage of half-round gutters is their price. While you can find galvanized steel, 5-inch half-round gutters for as little as $5 per linear foot, the typical cost ranges from around $8 to $23 per linear foot, according to costs from Home Depot and Gutter Supply. The price depends on the height, color and material you choose. It’s more difficult to find half-round gutters made from cheaper materials, such as vinyl.
Fascia gutters
Fascia gutters are a unique gutter type that doubles as a fascia board. This kind of gutter is integrated directly into a home’s architecture and is particularly well-suited for homes with wide overhangs. This is because hanging gutters from a roof with wide overhangs can put more strain on them, which may lead to sagging and leaks.
Unfortunately, because fascia gutters are custom-made and require expert installation, they’re usually more expensive than other types. The bright side is that their custom nature allows for a perfectly streamlined look that integrates seamlessly with your home, regardless of its style. Fascia gutters are also less likely to detach since they’re integrated into your roof.
Fascia gutters require professional installation. We recommend having a professional install your gutters regardless of the style you choose, but with fascia gutters, you don’t have the option to do it yourself.
How do sectional vs. seamless gutters work?
Aside from style, gutters can further be categorized into seamed and seamless models.
Seamed gutters
Seamed gutters come in pre-cut sections that are joined together during the installation process. The seams are typically sealed with special gutter sealant to prevent leaks. You might sometimes hear people refer to seamed gutters as sectional gutters.
These gutters are practical and affordable. One of the biggest advantages of seamed gutters is that you can quickly replace sections if one of them gets damaged. If you have home improvement experience, you could probably install seamed gutters yourself, although we still typically recommend hiring a professional.
Maintenance for seamed gutters is straightforward, but the joints between sections are vulnerable points that may eventually leak. You should check your gutter seams a few times per year to ensure the seals remain intact. Replacing sections of seamed gutters after they develop a leak is a headache that’s easily avoided by routine inspections.
Pros of seamed gutters:
- Inexpensive
- Easy to repair
- DIY-friendly
Cons of seamed gutters:
- Prone to leaking
- Requires regular maintenance
Seamless gutters
Seamless gutters are a good choice if you’re looking for a durable, low-maintenance gutter that fits well with modern and classic home styles. Their lack of seams offers a sleek, continuous look. Another benefit is that seamless gutters are less prone to leaks and subsequent water damage than sectional gutters.
“Their sleek design not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of a home but also reduces maintenance needs,” said Chris Good, CEO of Cenvar Roofing in Lynchburg, Virginia. “Homeowners investing in seamless gutters can expect long-term durability and a more efficient water drainage system, providing a valuable solution to safeguarding their property.”
Overall, seamless gutters outperform seamed gutters, but they come with a downside: They’re more expensive to install. The extra investment, however, often pays off since they tend to need fewer repairs than seamed gutters. Seamless gutters are custom-measured to fit the exact dimensions of your home, which is why they cost more than off-the-shelf seamed gutters.
The bottom line is that seamless gutters are worth the upcharge if you want longer-lasting gutters that won’t need to be frequently repaired or resealed.
Pros of seamless gutters:
- Less likely to leak
- Custom-fit to your home
- Easier to maintain
Cons of seamless gutters:
- A bit more expensive
- Not DIY-friendly
What are the typical gutter materials?
Gutters come in several materials, such as aluminum, copper, steel, vinyl and zinc, with varying qualities and price points. Your choice of gutter material will significantly affect your system’s life span and maintenance requirements, plus your home’s exterior.
Aluminum gutters
Aluminum gutters are a popular choice since they’re lightweight and rust-resistant. They’re also available in a wide range of colors, so it’s easy to match them to your home’s existing style. Additionally, aluminum is the easiest gutter material to paint, allowing for further customization to perfectly complement your home’s exterior. Aluminum K-style and half-round gutters are the most popular varieties.
You should consider aluminum gutters if you want to save money since they’re more affordable than other materials. Seamed and seamless aluminum gutters are both readily available.
Copper gutters
Copper is a premium gutter material that’s more durable and aesthetically pleasing than aluminum. A unique feature of copper gutters is that they develop a natural patina over time that protects them from the elements and makes them more visually appealing.
Copper gutters are an excellent choice in almost any climate. They’re rust-resistant and require little maintenance, which helps offset their higher cost. Copper gutters are a popular choice for high-end new construction homes. They’re most commonly seen with a K-style or half-round profile.
Steel gutters
Steel gutters are strong and can withstand serious weather events, making them suitable for areas with severe weather. One problem with steel gutters is that they can rust unless they’re made of stainless steel, which is more expensive. Galvanized steel has a coating to help prevent rust, but it can wear off over time. Steel gutters — even galvanized steel gutters — don’t last as long as aluminum or copper gutters due to corrosion.
Another downside to steel is that it’s much heavier than copper or aluminum. The extra weight means proper installation is essential, so you shouldn’t install steel gutters yourself unless you’re a professional.
Steel is more affordable than copper but not as cheap as aluminum, making it a good middle-ground material. You can find steel gutters in various finishes and colors, and they work well on contemporary and classic homes.
Vinyl gutters
Vinyl gutters are a lightweight option that won’t rust or corrode. They are also the easiest type of gutter to install since they’re light and easy to cut, which is why they’re the most popular material for DIY installations.
One drawback to vinyl, however, is that it can become brittle and crack in cold temperatures. This means vinyl isn’t the best choice if you live somewhere with harsh winters.
Vinyl is much cheaper than steel, copper or aluminum.
Zinc gutters
Zinc gutters are durable and have a nice matte finish, but they’re less common than other gutter materials. Like copper, zinc develops a protective patina over time. It’s also long-lasting, low maintenance and expensive. While the initial investment is higher, the longevity often justifies the upfront cost.
One unique advantage of zinc is that it’s 100% recyclable. That makes it an excellent choice if you’re looking to make your home more environmentally friendly.
Gutter guide: Terms to know
Understanding gutter terminology will help you communicate effectively with gutter installation professionals and make an informed decision. Here are the most common terms you should know:
- Downspout: This is the vertical pipe through which water exits the gutter and flows away from your home’s foundation.
- Eaves: These are the parts of the roof that extend beyond the face of your house. They’re usually where gutters are attached.
- Elbow: An elbow is a fitting used in downspouts that allows for a change in direction, typically redirecting water away from your home’s foundation.
- End caps: These are used at the terminal points of your gutters to seal off the ends, preventing water from escaping the system in the wrong direction.
- Gutter guards: These are protective devices that you can install over the top of gutters to prevent debris from entering while still allowing water to flow through.
- Hangers: These are supports that attach gutters to your house, either by hooking into the front lip of the gutter or screwing into the fascia board.
- Section: This refers to a single piece of gutter in a seamed gutter system.
What’s next?
After choosing and installing your gutters, you’ll need to keep them clean and clear for water to flow. Experts typically recommend cleaning your gutters twice a year.
You can also add gutter guards to reduce clogging. While gutter guards aren’t maintenance-free, they can reduce clogging and the frequency with which you need to clean your gutters.
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