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Q. How do I select a gutter contractor?
A. At the time of the contractor’s call, confirm their status with your local licensing board, you can get a good idea of what the contractor will be like when you meet with them for an evaluation of your home’s needs. The contractor should be able to answer all your questions in a professional matter and should not pressure you at all. The contractor should be able to provide you with a sample of the suggested gutter so you can see the colors, sizes and thickness of the material. And finally, it’s a good idea to ask the contractor for references of jobs they’ve done in your area so you can actually see the finished product and get some feedback from homeowners about the experience.
Q. When is it necessary to replace gutters?
A. If you start noticing that your home’s exterior has any mold on it or peeling paint, that may be a sign that your gutters need replacing or fixing. Leafs and debris can cause fire hazard/damage to your home. Weight from clogs and debris can cause a gutter to pull away from a house or sag. They may not be sloped properly and not doing their job of channeling water away from your home. Another sign that gutters aren’t working properly is if your basement is damp or there are cracks in the foundation. The gutters could have been clogged and the water is forced to overflow over the sides causing water buildup around your foundation. Getting a gutter professional to come over and assess the problem is the best idea. The rain gutter specialist can match you with the right person with the job.
Q. What’s the difference between seamless and sectional?
A. Sectional types are sold in 10-22 feet long pieces. They’re made of vinyl, painted aluminum or preprinted steel. Gutter sections are joined together by Snap-in-place connectors all sectional systems have end caps, corner pieces and drop outlets for connecting to downspouts. The negative to sectional systems is that there is a potential for leaks through all those seams. One positive is that they can be installed by either the homeowner or by a professional installer. Seamless gutters are the most popular type today. The biggest selling point is that they don’t have any seams which could potentially leak. The sections join only at inside and outside corners and at downspout outlets. Seamless gutters are usually formed from aluminum that has a baked-on finish, but they may be made from copper or factory-painted steel. They are made with a special machine that’s brought to your home by a gutter contractor. These types of gutters cannot be installed by do-it-yourselfer.
Q. How can I know which gutter is the right one for my house?
A. Typical standard rain gutters for a single home with shingle roof should be 5”. For a tile roof you can install a 5” or a 6” gutter, the reason for that is that the tile roof extend about 1” to 3”over the roof line so we want to make sure that the gutter is really going to work and not to over shoot the water over the gutter. The contractor should recommend the right gutter for your home.
