What type of gutters do you install, what does seamless gutters mean?

We install seamless K style gutters, they are the most popular type of gutter today. These gutters are made on site to the exact lengths needed for any particular roofline rather then smaller pieced together gutters to make one length. The sections of seamless gutters join together only at inside and outside corners as there is no way to turn a corner in one piece. The benefit is that seamless gutters don’t have any “seams” which could potentially leak. Seamless aluminum gutters are designed to give your home maximum protection and offer the best value for your money. Aluminum is a very durable material that will not rust or corrode under normal use, can be painted, and is a very lightweight material, requiring no special support structures. 

What Colors do you offer? Are colored gutters more expensive?

White is still the most common color we install. However we can match most standard color trims available with pre painted gutter colors or do a contrasting darker colored gutter if you desire. There is no cost difference for non special order colors.How are the gutters fastened to the house?The gutters we install are always screwed into the house using heavy duty internal hangers. We use what we consider to be the best hangers on the market. They utilize a built in screw that goes into the wood at a slight downward angle for additional strength. We also space the hangers approximately 2-2.5 feet apart. Both the types of hangers and the spacing is extremely important in regards to your gutters strength and longevity.
Can you install gutters on a metal building?Typically the answer is yes. Metal buildings may require a different type of hanger that attaches with a “roof strap.” We do not install industrial building steel gutters.

What size gutters and downspouts do I need?

There are 2 different sizes of aluminum gutters available, 5″ and 6″. The smaller 5″ gutters fitted with 2×3″ downspouts were the industry standard on most homes for many years. This was due to availability and cost over functionality. The 2×3″ downspouts have been basically phased out over time as they cannot keep up with the volume of water in a moderate rain and clog very quickly. The 3×4″ downspouts have replaced 2×3″ downspouts on most houses these days regardless of the size of the gutter itself. 

Over the years 6″ gutters with 3×4″ downspouts have been becoming the new “standard size”. We almost universally recommend these except in cases that have small rooflines such as sheds or by special request. We do still offer 5″ gutters but we do not utilize 2×3″ downspouts (except in rare instances). If you plan on replacing a gutter on a section or an entire house, it usually makes sense to upsize the gutter to 6″ from 5″ as they will work significantly better under all circumstances.

Do I need leaf protection, what type should I get?

There are many different types of leaf protection available on the market today. While we have experience with most of them there are not many we recommend. While we are not opposed to guards every situation is different, this may mean choosing to leave the gutters open as opposed to installing leaf guards at all. Having the knowledge and experience of installing thousands of feet of various products over the years we can determine what we feel works best given your unique situation.

Our most preferred style of leaf protection is Shur-Flo. It lays relatively flat in the gutter and has thousands of tiny holes to allow the water through. It is generally the most versatile system as it can be used in almost any situation. This type of leaf guard is also the most aesthetically pleasing, as it is nearly invisible from the ground. Another benefit of this leaf guard is that it does not interfere with the roof in any way, but rather attaches to the fascia similarly to how the gutters do.

Do I still need to clean my gutters even if I have leaf protection?

I tell everyone that in most cases, even with leaf protection there is still maintenance required. It is less frequently needed and is easier to maintain the gutters with protection. Depending on the proximity of the trees and types of trees around the property the guards may still need to get brushed off periodically. There is no such thing as a totally maintenance free gutter or gutter guard.