Gutters
Without gutters (or if your gutters are clogged) rainwater can accumulate in pools around your home’s walls and foundation. This can result in erosion and cracks in the foundation or flooding of your basement.
A lot goes into choosing and installing gutters. Your installer should choose the proper size and amount of downspouts needed. Your installed will then have to pitch and laser level each gutter so that there is proper and adequate water flow to the right areas in order to divert the water in a planned and controlled manner.
Learn More About Gutter Pros Gutter SystemLook for a company that specializes in gutters, not a company that just does them as an add-on. There is a lot that goes into installing gutters properly (see above FAQ) so it is crucial they are installed by trained gutter professionals.
5 things to look for when choosing a gutter company in Chicago
Traditional gutters are manufactured off-site, cut to length, and then pieced together. The many seams resulting from piecing prefabricated gutter parts together weakens the system and creates more opportunities for leaks. Seamless gutters are made on-site at your home using a specialized gutter machine that fabricates gutters to the exact length needed. While they are slightly more expensive initially, homeowners save money in the long run because the gutters are customized for their home and therefore traditionally require less maintenance and fewer repairs in the future.
The term K-style gutters comes from their ‘K’ shape when viewed from the side. The outer shape of the gutter is supposed to represent the letter K, as opposed to a perfectly-rounded, half-circle-shaped gutter.
K-Style gutters are widely used in America for multiple reasons. From an aesthetic view, they resemble the stylish crown molding that is found on interior ceilings.
K-gutters provide some distinct advantages over rounded gutters. K-gutters hold more water than a rounded gutter with an equivalent diameter. Also, K-gutters are less likely to bend or when impacted, which makes them stronger. However, K-gutters can be harder to clean than others.
5 inch gutters are considered to be a standard gutter. 6 inch gutters can hold significantly more water during storms. 6 inch gutters are the ultimate peace of mind by dispersing water away from your home to protect its foundation, siding, and fascia boards. Since 6” gutters are bigger, they are also less likely to clog.
Learn more about the differences between 5 inch and 6 inch gutters
Size depends upon the amount and rate of water going into the gutter. Besides for the location and weather of where you live, the size and pitch of your roof will determine the type of gutter needed. The steeper the pitch of your roof, the more wind driven rain it will take. This added incline also causes the water to come down more rapidly, which will require a 6 inch gutter.
Learn more about the differences between 5 inch and 6 inch gutters
There are many kinds of gutters available
- Vinyl – easy to install but require many seams and become brittle over time
- Seamless Aluminum – seamless aluminum gutters are custom made on site. These are the most popular gutters and they only have seams at the corners. Slightly higher upfront cost but less seams mean less leaks and less maintenance over time.
- Copper gutters – won’t mold, mildew or rust. They require welding at seams. Copper ionizes and changes color over time. They are also 2x+ the cost of aluminum gutters. Usually installed in conjunction with copper roofs
- Steel gutters- Heavy gutters require a solid fascia board. Although they do look great, they require constant maintenance and rust prevention treatment
Overall winner – Seamless Aluminum gutter
We offer a lifetime guarantee on all of our gutters, so you should not have to replace them again. Gutters should last you a long time. The only maintenance gutters will need is cleaning. The frequency of cleaning depends on your location (i.e. if a tree is over your home)
Downspouts
Downspout is an enclosed tube which carries water from the gutter into drainage or away from the homes foundation
Downspouts usually match the size of the gutter. The larger the downspout, the more water it can divert. Also, larger downspouts are less likely to clog.
The number of downspouts depends on your gutter layout. We recommend one downspout for every 30-40 feet of gutter length. The number of downspouts also depends on the location of the gutter and amount of water coming off the roof during rainfall.
Gutter Guards
There really is no “perfect” gutter guard. While gutter guards do help from keeping bigger debris like leaves and twigs out, which will help prevent clogs, they still let smaller particles through (which is a good thing). We believe the best type of gutter guards are those that prevent bigger pieces like leaves and twigs from getting in, but still allow smaller pieces like asphalt rock and dirt, as these can go down the gutter and downspout. If you install mesh gutter guards, these can get clogged by dirt and won’t allow water to flow into the gutter (the main reason you have a gutter).
We try to make the entire process as easy as possible. Start by getting a free quote. Installation can vary depending on the size of your home, but in most cases, your gutter will be installed in a few hours and will last you a lifetime.
Other
We currently install gutters in Chicago and surrounding suburbs. Click here to view our service location.
Don’t see your city on the list? Contact us to see if we service your area.