Which Rain Gutters Are Really Made to Last?

Rain Gutters Help You Go with The Flow

When it rains or snows on your roof, all that water has to go somewhere. Rain gutters serve the important purpose of collecting those gallons and directing them away from your home or business. You probably don’t give your gutters a second thought when they’re working properly. But when there’s a problem, you could end up with some costly roof damage, and possibly even more costly damage to your building’s infrastructure or interior. Because of this fact, it pays to choose a rain gutter system that’s built to last.

Roof Gutter Material Options

Roof gutters are available in a number of materials with a range of price points, but not all gutter materials demonstrate the same longevity. Here is a brief description of some of the more popular gutter types, along with the typical life expectancy of each:

• • Vinyl is a popular material for DIY gutter projects because it’s cheap, lightweight, and fairly easy to install. But while vinyl is an excellent material for applications like siding and windows, it really isn’t the best choice for gutters. Vinyl gutters don’t respond as well to temperature extremes, and the material can often bend and become stressed under the weight of heavy rain or snow. Vinyl simply isn’t as durable as metal, and vinyl gutters can break down over time due to sunlight exposure. The rubber seals between vinyl gutter sections also have a tendency to become brittle and allow leaks to develop. Some vinyl gutters have been shown to last up to 20 years with proper maintenance, but in harsher climates a vinyl gutter may only last you 10 years or less.

   

  • Aluminum is one of the most common gutter materials in America because it offers a nice balance between price and quality. It’s lightweight, resistant to corrosion, comes in many colors, and is relatively inexpensive. Aluminum doesn’t typically bend like vinyl, but it is easy to dent. An aluminum gutter can last 20 years or more, but aluminum does require some maintenance. The coating will eventually wear away, so aluminum gutters do need periodic refinishing.

   

  • Galvanized steel is another popular gutter option for both residential and commercial roofs, thanks to its durability and sturdiness. Galvanized steel is steel that’s been hot-dipped into zinc oxide, which helps to prevent corrosion, oxidation, and rust. Galvanized steel is heavier and more durable than aluminum, so it’s less prone to denting and also responds well to weather extremes. A galvanized steel gutter can outlast an aluminum gutter, but once the zinc coating wears away galvanized steel can become susceptible to corrosion.

   

  • Galvalume steel carries a distinct advantage over galvanized steel. The steel isn’t just dipped in zinc, but rather is given multiple coatings of a very corrosion-resistant alloy of aluminum, zinc, and silicon. Galvalume offers greater longevity than traditional galvanized steel, and Galvalume gutters last longer with less needed maintenance. You can expect Galvalume gutters to last 30-40 years, or longer!

   

  • Copper has been considered by many to be the premier gutter material option for generations. It’s been around for centuries, and it’s still one of the longest-lasting gutter materials available today. It’s a beautiful, low-maintenance material, and a copper gutter can be expected to last you for 50 years or more. The biggest drawback to copper is its cost. Copper is an elegant, high-end option for homeowners who have the budget for it, but it’s usually too expensive to be considered as a realistic option for many large or commercial structures.

Should You Go Sectional, or Should You Go Seamless?

Sectional gutters are smaller lengths of gutter that are linked together, while seamless gutters are made exactly the way they sound – without seams! Seamless guttering isn’t something you can take on as a DIY project, but qualified roofing and gutter professionals like Skywalker Windows & Siding can custom fabricate seamless gutters for your home or business right on site. What’s better about choosing a seamless gutter? It’s custom-engineered to fit your roof perfectly, and since it has no internal seam connections, there are fewer opportunities for your gutters to spring a leak. Seamless gutters are the best way to go in terms of design and performance, and they’re really built to last longer, too.

Who to Trust for Your Professional Seamless Gutter Services

Skywalker Windows & Siding offers a range of quality home improvement services, including window replacement, siding replacement, blown insulation, drywall repair, and home additions including decks and porches. But you should also know that roofing is where it all started for us, and we still specialize in offering the best in custom roofing gutter, and gutter guard services!

We have years of experience in custom fabricating and installing seamless gutters on site, and we’re trained to work with all the best materials, including aluminum, Galvalume, and copper. We can install custom gutter guard solutions for you, too. We’re proud to stand behind all of our products and services, and we back everything with some of the best warranties in the business. Nobody takes better care of you than Skywalker!

We’re honored to be the preferred roofing and home improvement services provider for the NC Piedmont Triad, Triangle, Charlotte Metro, and Roanoke, VA areas, and we’d love to take care of you, too! Reach out to us today, and let us show you the Skywalker difference!