Gutters and rainwear are essential parts of your home. They keep your house, and the ground around it, safe and dry. If your residential gutters don’t work, they cause leaks and even flooded basements. What folks often fail to realize is just how many different type of gutters are out there.

Different Residential Gutter Shapes

There are two main shapes of gutters, the K-shaped, and the half-round. The K-shaped gutter looks like the letter K when seen from the side. The half-round gutters are similarly named for their half-round shape. However, half-round gutters are rarely found in modern homes and are much more expensive than their K-shaped counterparts. Half-round gutters look unique, but K-shaped gutters are more useful and cost-effective for most homeowners.

Various Residential Gutter Materials

Residential gutters are made from various materials in order to complement the many styles of homes.

  • Plastic gutters are a durable and low-cost option. However, many homeowners dislike the look of plastic gutters and go with something a little nicer.
  • Aluminum gutters are among the most common. They’ve truly stood the test of time as durable and great-looking. You can also paint aluminum gutters easily to match any home’s color/material.
  • Galvanized steel gutters are a great option as well. They’re economical and resist the dents and dings that aluminum gutters cannot. You must keep a rust-resistant seal on them at all times to ensure they always look their best though.
  • Copper gutters are expensive up-front, but pay off in the long term. They look unique and high-end, and they last up to 100 years. Initially an orange color, they will eventually become a lighter green shade called patina. 

Other Residential Gutter Options

Downspouts have a little less variation in comparison to the gutters. They typically come in either round or rectangular shapes and can be anywhere from three to six inches wide. However, there are also some decorative shapes like spiral downspouts available for an additional cost.

Once you’ve decided on the material and shape, you’ll find other options to consider. While typical gutters are five inches in width, if you live in a particularly rainy area, you may consider six-inch gutters, which move significantly more water. These larger gutters are suited for colder climates like Wisconsin’s since they can also hold more snow and ice.

Seamless gutters are the best choice, but seamed gutters are less expensive. Seamless gutters greatly reduce the risk of leaks and also are much easier to clean. Other options, such as rainwear and gutter guards, are available as well.

Contact Your Local Roofing Experts!

Just ask your Community Roofing and Restoration expert today, and we’ll give you the full story on all the residential gutters available to you. We’ve been in the gutter business for over 50 years, so rest assured that we know what best for your unique situation.