Gutters are essential to every building since they protect the property and landscaping from erosion, damage, and flooding. When working on a rain gutter job, it’s important to choose a design that complements the features of the building and protects the property.
Picking the right rain gutter type can be challenging, especially for new rain gutter contractors. But don’t worry—in this post, we cover all you need to know about the different types of rain gutters, including the different types of leaf guards for rain gutters. We’ll also cover how you can use rain gutter software to make your gutter company stand out from the competition.
Let’s get started!
What Are the Different Types of Rain Gutters?
As the demand for real estate recovers, so does the need for gutter services. As a gutter contractor, you should know all the different types of rain gutters to ensure you install the right gutter to meet your clients’ needs.
Let’s take a look at each of the main types of gutters.
Half-Round Gutters
Half-round gutters or traditional gutters feature a semi-circular shape with a curved lip. Due to their design, half-round gutters have round downspouts and are less aesthetically pleasing than other types of rain gutters.
These gutters are more common in historic or brick buildings. In fact, some state ordinances require a property to install half-round gutters if it’s historic or in a historic neighborhood.
K-Style Gutters
K-style gutters feature a flat back that allows you to nail the gutter directly to the fascia board without any brackets. These gutters are popular because of their decorative front side that looks like crown molding.
They collect more water than half-round gutters thanks to their flat and straight bottom, rectangular downspout, and outwardly angled sides. But K-style gutters are harder to clean than half-round gutters.
Custom Fascia Gutters
Unlike half-round and K-style gutters that are shipped in sections and later assembled, custom fascia gutters are one piece. The entire gutter is built from a long stretch of aluminum, ensuring there are no seams that increase the chance of rust and leaks.
Custom fascia gutters are more expensive than K-style and half-round gutters because they differ from house to house and require high precision. For custom-made fascia gutters, you will likely pay twice the cost of K-style or half-round gutters.
Box-Style Gutters
Box-style gutters are most common in industrial and commercial buildings, but gutter contractors can make them work for residential buildings. Typically, box-style gutters are oversized and ideal in areas that experience heavy rainfall.
Unlike rain gutters that hang on the roof’s edge, box-style gutters feature a high back section that tucks under a roof’s shingles. You must install these gutters while the building is still under construction.
What Are the Different Types of Leaf Guards for Rain Gutters?
All gutters must be clear of any clogs that might limit or stop the flow of discharged rainwater. Decomposing leaves, pine needles, and other debris can block the gutter, potentially putting the property at risk.
Each type of gutter has its challenges when it comes to cleaning them. Fortunately, you can leverage gutter guards to keep the gutter free of debris.
Here are 5 popular types of leaf guards for rain gutters:
Screen: Screen gutter guards feature a plastic or wire grid that blocks debris from getting inside the gutter. They are easy to install and an inexpensive solution to clogged gutters.
Micro Mesh: Micro-mesh gutter guards are similar to screens, allowing water to trickle through small holes while preventing debris from passing through. Micro mesh is highly effective since it can block even the smallest waste, including sand. Unlike other gutter guards, they may require occasional cleaning to clear debris.
Reverse Curve: Made from molded plastic or metal, these leaf guards are highly effective. Discharged rainwater flows over the top and around a downward curve before getting into the gutter underneath. The reverse curve pushes debris off the guard’s edge to the ground.
Brush: Brush guards are typically oversized pipe cleaners placed inside the gutter. Brush-style gutter guards have a thick, flexible metal wire with polypropylene bristles. The guards are inexpensive since you just cut the brush to the appropriate size and slide it into the gutter.
Foam: Foam gutter guards are triangular blocks of foam placed inside the gutter. One side of the block faces the gutter top to prevent debris; the other side lies diagonally, allowing water and tiny debris to flow through the system, while the final side lies to the back of the gutter.
Get an Edge over Competitors with Gutter Software
To give your company an advantage over other players in the industry, gutter service contractors should consider getting custom gutter software to help manage their gutter cleaning, maintenance, and installation business.
With dedicated gutter software, you’ll be able to create gutter invoices, maintain schedules and connect with suppliers and subcontractors. You can also note which style of gutters and gutter guards your customer wants on their project.
Find the Right Gutters & Gutter Guards
When you know the basic types of gutters and gutter guards, you can figure out the right ones for each project. You’ll give your customers a beautiful gutter with impressive functionality that will translate to more jobs and higher customer satisfaction.
What gutters do you recommend the most? Let us know in the comments below.
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