The addition of gutters to your home is an important project to undergo. While it may not be #1 on your list of home to-do’s, gutters play an important role in home protection and choosing the right gutters can both extend the lifespan on your roof and prevent water damage to your property. What many people tend to forget is that gutters can also upgrade the look of your home. That is why understanding how to choose the best gutter shape, material, and color can be a great asset to you when installing new gutters.
Gutter Shapes
There are two main shapes of gutter that you should get familiar with. Most gutter contractors will give you a choice between K-style and half round gutters. Knowing which shape is best suited to your home is the first step in creating your new seamless gutter system.
K-style
The K-style gutter shape is designed to work with the angular roof design that has become more common in today’s home construction and thus this shape tends to be more popular among homeowners and builders. K-style gutters are flat on one side and can be installed directly to the fascia board with fewer brackets and accessories than half round. Its shape allows it to take on more water and makes it more resistant to impacts, bends, and warping.
While K-style comes with many appealing advantages its shape does make it more difficult to clean and it can be more susceptible to things like tiger striping and corrosion if not properly maintained.
Half Round
Half round has a less structured shape than its counterpart. Its U shape fits well on homes with rounded roof lines, but it can still be installed on homes with angular roofs. Half round gutters are a great option for older homes or for anyone wanting to give their home a more unique look.
While half round gutters are a beautiful choice their curved shape does not allow them to sit flat against your home and they will require more brackets than K-style to be installed. The additional material and skill required to install half round gutters means that they will also come with a higher price tag.
However, half round’s shape makes it easier to clean and it tends to collect less dirt over time making it more resistant to corrosion. You may spend a little more, but half round is lower maintenance and can potentially last you longer than K-style.
Gutter Material
The second step in the process is choosing what material you want your new gutters to be made of. While there has been many options over the years it is widely agreed that aluminum, galvalume, and copper make for the best gutters. Each material comes with its own list of pros and cons that you should consider paying close attention to when deciding which material will fit your needs and be best suited for your home.
Aluminum
Of all three materials aluminum is the most affordable and most common. Gutters made from aluminum offer a simple and classic style that looks good on virtually every home. Even better, aluminum gutters come in numerous colors and can even be painted to resemble copper.
Pros
- Affordable
- Long Lifespan
- Enamel protects against rust
- Lighter with less bulk
- Can be painted any color
Cons
- Higher level of maintenance
- Easier to dent
- More susceptible to damage, bowing, and warping from extreme hot or cold
Galvalume
Galvalume is a good middle option when it comes to affordability. It’s a little more expensive than aluminum but makes up for it with its durability. The dull silver color of this material is highly reflective and weathers in a unique pattern over time that gives it a more natural and rustic appearance. This makes galvalume gutters a good fit for farmhouse style homes, modern homes with neutral colors, and homes with metal roofs.
Pros
- Durability
- Long Lifespan
- Cools your home by reflecting heat
Cons
- Easy to scratch
- Difficult to install
- Comes in one color
- Corrosion resistant
- Doesn’t fade
- Contracts and expands with extreme temps
Copper
Copper gutters are going to be your most expensive option however, many people consider the benefits of copper gutters to be well worth the investment. While this material starts out as a very shiny metallic color it will patina over time and take on a darker color and more vintage look. Many people choose copper gutters specifically because they will change over time and the new look tends to blend in well with the architecture of historic homes and buildings. Copper gutters are also a good match for brick, stone, wood, and slate accented homes both before and after they patina.
Pros
- Low Maintenance
- Eco-friendly
- Very durable
- Curb-appeal
- Rust Resistant
- Long lifespan
Cons
- Expensive
- Comes in one color
- Difficult to install
- Copper gutters require all copper gutter accessories because other metals can corrode copper
Gutter Color
If you decide that galvalume or copper is what’s right for your home then your gutter color is pretty much set. However, if you go with aluminum you will have numerous color options to choose from. The best way to pick a gutter color for your home is to match the color to your siding, trim, or roof.
Matching the color of your siding will allow your gutters to blend in the best, while matching the color of your trim will allow your gutters to stand out a little bit more. If you decide to match the color of your roof shingles your gutters will blend into the roofline but may starkly contrast your siding.
If your home’s exterior is mainly brick or stone consider matching your gutters to the color of your garage door or another prevalent accent color on your home’s exterior.
How much or how little you want your gutters to stand out is completely up to you. For those who want to go bold and choose a contrasting gutter color consider picking a complimentary shade that is either much darker or lighter than your home’s siding, trim, or roof.