Aluminum Gutters of all the types of gutters to choose from, there is a very good reason why aluminum dominates the gutter market. The metal is corrosion-resistant, lightweight, easy to work with, available in wide range of colors, and less expensive than the other alternatives. Copper GuttersCopper gutters will not hold up that much better or last longer than aluminum gutters for the added cost. There are certain long term and short term advantages to copper gutters, as long as they are installed properly.
Lets face it, one of the main reasons people get copper gutters for their house is for the bragging rights. The standard 16oz copper typically used for gutters is a little stronger than aluminum, but not by much. The main reason to get copper gutters though is the simple fact that you will not need to deal with the painting issue again and they will not mildew like any painted surface. Galvanized Steel Gutters Galvanized gutters are steel gutters coated with a layer of zinc. This type of gutter is strong but is also prone to rust.
Proper gutter installation is very important to ensure proper drainage and avoid standing water in your gutters. Leaf protectors will reduce the amount of leaves that will settle in your gutters. It is strongly recommend that you inspect and clean galvanized gutters often to prevent clogging and premature rusting. GalvalumeGalvalume is steel, with a coating of aluminum and zinc.
The result is a strong, durable metal with proven long term corrosion resistance. The coating is 55% Aluminum and 45% Zinc and is applied to the steel sheet by a continuous hot dipping process.Depending on the geographic location of the installation, galvalume has approximately nine times the longevity of galvanized steel. Zinc GuttersZinc gutters are usually made from an alloy of 99.
5 percent zinc with small amounts of copper and titanium. Similar to copper, zinc is normally used unpainted and will develop a protective patina that protects the zinc gutter from weathering and corrosion. Zinc Gutters cost much more than aluminum gutters initially, but zinc gutters have over twice the lifespan, require no paint and very little maintenance.Vinyl guttersWe have replace lots of plastic gutters, and here are some of the logical reasons why out of all the possible types of gutters to choose from, they are simply a waste of money:(a) Plastic gutters are even worse than steel gutters.
They may not rust, but the sun will break down the plastic within a decade and they become very brittle. Depending on how clean you keep your gutters, steel gutters will last about 15 to 20 years at least.(b) The rubber seals that join plastic gutters at every 10 foot section are made of a cheap rubber and they seem to fail in even less time than the gutters.c) The exterior supports are unsightly. Do you want to look at your house and see it look to have obvious exterior plumbing on it?(d) Plastic gutters are not recyclable, which means we have to pay an extra dump fee to get rid of them.
There for adding to our land fill problem. We also have to charge more for removal to cover the disposal cost.(e) The connecting parts are so expensive, it can cost almost as much as hiring a professional to install aluminum gutters.
