Tips on How to Match New Gutters With Home
Jul 18, 2018Gutters play an integral role in your home’s exterior. “They work together with your home’s roof and siding by properly draining rain, snow, and ice away from the property to prevent foundation damage,” said Wendy Cline, owner of J&B Construction. “As a result, it’s important to stay informed when it comes to your gutter options, including color, style, and materials.” J&B Construction offers tips to match new gutters with your home.
It’s always a wise and safe decision to choose to match the color of your gutters with other features of your home. For instance, you may want to compliment your gutter color with your home’s trim. This is an ideal solution if your home happens to be made of stone, brick, or another material that is not easily coordinated. “Remember, consider painting your trim after examining your gutter color options, especially if the color selection is limited,” she said.
Matching the color of your siding is another option. A majority of homeowners select this alternative when they’re set on finding the appropriate color for their gutters. Keep in mind that neutral gutter colors and neutral homes complement each other nicely. “However, if your home exhibits a more powerful color, you may want to match the gutters with a different part of the home, such as the roof,” Wendy said. “This will help your gutters seamlessly merge with the edge of the roof.”
There are a variety of gutter styles to choose from, not simply for aesthetic purposes, but also for gutter capacity. Gutters where the front side has an ornamental shape, while the bottoms and backs are flat, are called K-style gutters. This type of gutter can imitate crown molding and can add an attractive finishing touch to a home. Half round gutters are the alternative, more traditional option. First gaining popularity in the 1900s, this particular style is still widely used today. As its name suggests, half round gutters are comprised of a half-circle or trough that leads to the downspout. “As for gutter capacity, K-style gutters have significantly greater capacity compared to half round gutters,” Wendy said. For instance, a five-inch half round gutter is capable of draining a 2,500 square foot roof, while a K-style gutter of the same size can easily drain a roof that is more than double the square footage. Therefore, you’ll need to consider not only looks, but also capacity when it comes to gutter style.
The gutter system material will impact the overall style of the home as well. The most popular choice for longevity and low cost is aluminum. Vinyl gutters are another less expensive option, although vinyl is slightly less durable than aluminum. Metal, such as copper or stainless steel, is a third alternative. Even though metal has a higher price point, it is most suitable for homes in need of a distinct gutter style to match its personality, including heritage homes.
“Not only do homeowners want their new gutter system to look nice and match their home, they also want it to perform well and protect their home’s foundation,” she said. “Therefore, you need to carefully consider gutter color, style, and material when exploring your options. If you do a little research ahead of time, you’re sure to end up with the best gutter type for your home.” Contact J&B Construction Company for help to match new gutters with your home!
