One of the most significant protections of our homes against damaging environmental elements is rain gutters. Here is a list of the most common gutter materials being used today including their advantages and disadvantages for you to select the best choice for your home and budget.
WOOD
Wood gutters can give your house a traditional and hand built appeal. It requires a great amount of maintenance to ensure that it won't rot from water, sag or collapse. They are quite expensive too depending on the wood specie to be used. Early homes used to have wood gutters made from old growth cedar that stands up well for a long while. However, this type of wood is hardly available these days. They are now being substituted by new growth cedar and hemlock gutters which do not last as long as the old growth cedar gutters do.
COPPER
Copper gutters are corrosion resistant. They can withstand different weather conditions and will never rust or rot away. Minimal maintenance is required for this gutter type compared to other metal gutter types around but they also have concerns too. They cost three to four times more than, say, aluminum gutters. Copper gutters can also oxidize over time - from looking golden and shiny to green unless treated with sealants and other anti-oxidation products regularly.
STEEL
Steel gutters are durable. They are known to be very resistant to damage from ice, heavy branches and other destructive debris. They are also a common choice for most homeowners because they are affordable and economic. They will not rust or wear away if they are not painted or properly treated.
ALUMINUM
Aluminum gutters are installation friendly. They don't require soldering like the steel and copper types since it only requires snap on fasteners. They are very lightweight, rust free and can be formed without difficulties. One disadvantage is that they can easily be deformed with pressure coming from ladders and other heavy materials.
VINYL
Vinyl gutters are very simple and easy to install. They are made from PVC plastic that is durable against scratches corrosion and rusting. One disadvantage is extreme temperatures can cause the material to warp or bend. However, there are new
PVC gutters that are properly shielded against the sun to avoid such issue. It's a popular choice from homeowners because of its affordability and its almost maintenance free quality.
