What are rain gutters?

Rain gutters, or just plainly gutters, are part of a gutter system to move water away your roof and the foundation of your home.

What Is A Gutter System?

A gutter system is comprised of several components:

Rain gutters are a preventative to water and moisture damage to the roof, windows, and foundation of your home.

The Two Types of Gutters

There are two (2) types of rain gutters: sectional rain gutters and seamless rain gutters. What’s the difference?

Sectional Gutters come in sections like the name suggests and have seams that are sealed with a gutter sealant to prevent water leaks. The seams require regular reapplication to maintain its integrity. Sectional rain gutters can be found at your local home improvement store and is a DIY-homeowner’s only choice when self-installing a gutter system. Sectional gutters come in vinyl, aluminum, or steel.
Seamless Gutters do not have any seams and are custom bent onsite from one continuous piece. Seamless gutters come in aluminum and steel with different thickness and weight depending on the choices your gutter professional has to offer. This option is offered by rain gutter professionals.

Vinyl Gutters are the least expensive but it’s also at the bottom of the list when comparing longevity and quality.
Aluminum Gutters are favored because of its affordability, durability, and it doesn’t rust. Aluminum rain gutters come in a wide array of colors to match your home exterior design.
Steel Gutters are more expensive, but it’s the strongest and most durable of the three choices. You can choose between galvanized steel or stainless-steel rain gutters. Steel gutters are a popular choice for areas that experience extreme weather conditions, although the galvanized steel option will rust with time—around 25 to 30 years.

To get the most out of your rain gutters you want to do some essential maintenance to help extend the life of your gutters.

Inspect. Walk around your home and visually inspect your gutters from the ground for accumulation of leaves, sticks, or debris, and damage.
Clean. By removing leaves, sticks, and debris, you will help ensure that any water will continue to flow freely and away from your home.
Install. Not a fan of cleaning your gutters? Consider installing gutter guards to minimize your cleaning efforts. See our information on gutters guards and what we provide above.
Repair. Found damage while inspecting or cleaning your gutters? Make necessary repairs before the damage further escalates. If your rain gutters were recently purchased, check your paperwork or consult the company you worked with to find out if the damage is covered under their/its warranty.
Call a professional. If you are unsure about any of the above suggestions or just uncomfortable with doing the rain gutter maintenance yourself, there are professionals who can help you inspect, clean, and repair your gutters.
Don’t know who to call? Start by asking your friends and neighbors for recommendations. Combine the information from people you trust with online reviews. But be sure to look beyond the star-ratings and take your time reading through the reviews to look for feedback relevant to the work you are seeking. We encourage you to shop around to find the best fit for you, your budget, and your project.