The gutter system plays an important role in protecting your home from water damage. Without it, water would simply flow down to your home’s exterior and compromise its structural integrity. Moisture finds its way inside your home, causing extensive damage. Gutters and downspouts catch rainwater or melted snow from the roof and deliver it to a safe distance from your property.
Today, Ken Morton & Sons LLC, one of the top roofing and siding contractors in the area, provides a quick guide about gutter systems.
The Most Common Types of Gutters
The Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA) compiled 12 of the most common rectangular gutter profiles, the most popular of which is the K-style gutter. The K stands for its sequence in the list and not because it is shaped like the letter. It has a flat bottom and back, with the front side having a decorative shape.
The half-round gutter is another gutter type that is as popular as the K-style gutter. It is exactly what its name suggests: half-round tubes. It offers a traditional appearance that makes it a perfect fit in older, historic homes. It comes in many different styles, including single- and double-bead, and reverse bead.
The Most Common Gutter Materials
Experts in gutter and roof repairs often recommend aluminum gutter systems because they are lightweight and easier to install. With this material, you won’t have to worry about any corrosion affecting the gutters’ appearance.
Copper gutters, while more expensive than their aluminum counterparts, are known for their exceptional beauty that lasts a long time. They also won’t rust, but installing them requires the expertise of a professional as the seams and joints must be welded to secure the gutters to the roof’s fascia board.
The Top Gutter Sizes
As far as the sizes of gutters go, you’ll most likely choose either one of the two: 5-inch and 6-inch gutters. Five-inch gutters can handle large amounts of water run-off, but these require wider downspouts especially in areas that receive rainfall. Six-inch gutters, meanwhile, are more common in half-round types. It is not the largest size available, but it is enough to do the job for every home.
The next time you face a roofing emergency and wonder, “Are there any reliable roofers near me?”, keep Ken Morton & Sons LLC in mind. We’d love to help you with the gutter repair or replacement or handle any other exterior home contracting needs you may have.
Call us today at (856) 582-8800 or fill out our contact form to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. We serve residents of Sewell, NJ, and the surrounding areas.