Your new gutter installation involves many personal choices that will effect the appearance, cost and functionality of installing new gutters. Besides materials such as copper, aluminum, steel and vinyl, you will also need to decide what shape and size you want your new gutter system to be. There are two shapes to choose from, half-round and K-style gutters Brooklyn. Both shapes will drain the same amount of water so it is really a matter of your personal taste. Half-round gutters are traditional and best used with traditional homes such as victorians.
Your new gutter installation will include downspouts in round or rectangular shapes. Downspout size and gutter size are two other considerations. The most common gutter sizes are 5" and 6". Downspouts are 2x3 inches and 3x4 inches in size.
Your gutter installer will help you to determine the rainfall needs of your Bronx, Queen or Brooklyn home. Generally speaking, the more rainfall your area gets, the greater larger your gutter system needs to be. In addition, the rainfall, your gutter contractor will look at your roofline and yard to determine your needs. For example, if you have a steep roof, you will need a larger gutter system to handle the runnoff. Tall trees will fill your gutters with leaves in the fall and may require screening to keep your gutters from clogging.
Thickness of the material you choose will have a direct impact on durability and price. Also, copper is rated by weight rather than thickness.
The next decision you will need to make is whether your gutter system is seemless or has seams. Do it your selfers will probably find it easier to use a vinyl gutter with seams for ease of installation. However, seamless gutters are typically more attractive and more durable.
Sectional copper or steel systems are actually soldered together at the seams, eliminating the need for a sealant. Proper installation of a sectional copper or steel system should include soldering, although some installers will use a metal sealant. Seamless systems are growing in popularity, and require professional installers. In a seamless system, an installer will use a special machine on-site to form long stretches of gutter (usually copper or aluminum) that will run the length of the roofline without a seam.
Gutter installation should follow a couple basic rules. Gutters must be pitched so water will flow to the downspouts. The rule of thumb for this slope is a vertical 1/2 inch for every 10 feet of horizontal run. If the run is more than 35 feet long, some specialists recommend installing the high point of the system in the middle and sloping the gutter downward in both directions to downspouts on both ends of the run. Water exiting the downspout must always be directed away from the foundation.
There are so many accessories available for your gutters to choose from - some of which may not be necessary to keep things out of your gutters. These include screens and barriers that keep things out of the gutters. You need to think about what kind of things are going to get into your gutters and clog them before buying these accessories. Then, check the numerous types of screens and flow-through devices for their different applications.
Finally, you will want to consider where the water goes when exiting the downspout. Downspouts should flow away from the foundation and ideally, the water needs to go somewhere where there is ample drainage like a rocky swale or catch basin. This keeps your basement or crawl space from flooding with heavy rains.
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