8 Advantages of Custom Gutters

Rain is inevitable, and rainwater can wreak havoc on your house and property in the absence of good gutters. Gutters are so important that, increasingly, municipalities all around the country are requiring gutters on all new housing. But there are also some misconceptions about guttering, and inferior, pre-made guttering can do more harm than good. For nearly every project, custom gutters are the superior choice.

 

8 Advantages of Custom Gutters

1. Enjoy the Perfect Fit

When you buy your gutters already fabricated, you have to make them fit your home's unique structure. If the wrong size is delivered or it turns out the angle isn't quite right, the whole project is delayed while you wait for a replacement to be shipped.

 

At Hill Country Metal Roofing Supply, we can bring the materials to your site, and custom cut them on the spot. Every cut is perfect, and every piece of the project is custom-made to fit and protect your structure.

 

2. Never Run Low on Accessories

When you order your gutters pre-fabricated, they will come with a certain number of clips, hangers, elbows, miters, and downspouts. If you've done all the figuring exactly right, and if there are no issues in filling or shipping the order, things might go just as planned. But that's a big risk to take.

 

Instead, why not get gutters custom made with everything you need always on hand? In addition to rolling and cutting all materials on-site to your specifications, you can be certain of having access to all the accessories you could possibly need so the project gets done in a single visit with no delays.

 

3. Save Some Money

Custom gutters are cost-effective because there's no wasted material. Everything is cut on-site, and you only pay for and use the accessories you need. Instead of wasting money on accessories that come standard and which it turns out you don't need at all, or for parts of the gutter system itself that aren't quite right for your roof and angles, you only pay for exactly what you need.

 

4. Enjoy Seamless Gutters

When you buy gutters pre-made, they're seamed and typically come in 10-foot sections. While these are the cheapest option and often seem attractive initially, seamed gutters can cause a lot of heartache down the line. With fewer seams, there are fewer places where gutters can leak. Even a small separation between two pieces can lead to a build-up of leaves and debris that puts extra strain on hangers and clips, and sometimes even the roof itself.

 

5. Access Expert Advice

At Hill Country Metal Roofing Supply, we know just what goes into a great gutter system and the best way to protect your property and project. We have the expertise you need to choose the right gutters for your project: ones that will work at peak effectiveness and last as long as possible. We can even help you match your roof and gutters for the best look performance.

 

6. Skip Some of the Repairs

While all gutter systems need to be maintained and may need a repair at some point, seamless gutters that are custom made for your project will be far more durable and give you better performance with fewer hassles than an ordinary gutter system. Because of the way ordinary systems attach, they can move in the wind or heavy rain. Over time, that movement can work the seams loose or cause the attachments to weaken.

 

If these aren't repaired quickly, you lose the whole function of a gutter system, which is to protect your structure, foundation, and land. In the worst cases, the gutters themselves can sag and do damage as they tear away. With a seamless system, you can avoid most of these issues.

 

7. Get Exactly the Look You Want

Traditional gutter systems offer limited choices, but having your gutters custom-made allows you a lot more freedom to choose the look you really want. Even better, seamless gutters have a clean, uniform look that traditional gutter systems simply can't match. Seamless gutters also offer more choice of material, too, from lead-coated copper to galvanized steel and more.

 

8. Protect Your Property

The whole point of gutters is to keep water away from the walls and foundation of your structure. If you install an inferior gutter system, you risk your property unnecessarily. When gutters leak, sag, or tear away, they can allow water to pool along the foundation of a building.

 

When that happens, the gutters have become worse than useless: they're actually a threat to your property. Standing water next to a building is asking for trouble in the form of leaks and foundation damage.

 

Caring for Your Gutters

While gutters that are custom made don't require the same amount of maintenance as traditional systems and are less likely to need repairs, the best way to ensure you get the longest life and best performance from them is occasional maintenance.

 

Consider Leaf Guards

Leaf guards can help to keep your gutters clog-free. The key is getting the right kind. If you use an inferior design, or if it's not installed properly, these gutter guards can actually cause leaves and other debris to build up on the roof, which isn't what you want.

 

Sometimes they get so clogged they don't let any rainwater into the gutter, which defeats the purpose. But if you get the right guards and keep them cleaned off, which is far less hassle than a full gutter cleaning, they'll protect the gutters themselves. Ask us about the best solutions for your needs.

 

Do an Inspection

Make it a habit of walking around and taking a look at your gutters a couple of times a year. If you can, do this when it's raining so you can quickly identify any areas where there might be a leak.

 

If you should happen to notice any place where water is spilling over or leaking out, check it more thoroughly as soon as you can. If the gutter is clogged with debris, clean it out. If you see a hole, get it fixed quickly so the gutter can do its job.

 

Clean the Gutters

No one enjoys cleaning out gutters, but it's an important maintenance step no matter what type of gutters you have. The best times to do this are at the end of spring and near the end of autumn.

 

In the spring, pollen, papery maple seeds, and other types of natural debris can get blown around in the wind and land on the roof, so cleaning near the end of the season is a good idea. Even more crucial are those autumn leaves. Those are the worst offenders and can easily clog your seamless gutters and lead to trouble in a wet winter.

 

Tips for Cleaning Your Gutters

Work From a Ladder

It's safer to clean gutters from below, on a ladder, than from above standing on the roof. Just remember not to use the gutters to support the ladder as you lay it up against the roof.

 

Use a Leaf Scoop

A plastic leaf scoop makes the cleaning job easier than just using your hands. It will go even faster if you have a trash can on the ground that you can just scoop the debris into. Make sure you have heavy gloves, though, so that what doesn't come out easily with the scoop you can get with your hands.

 

Custom-made gutters have a lot of advantages over traditional systems. They fit better, look better, perform better, and cost less in maintenance and repair over time. If your roofing project is ready for gutters, contact Client now and ask about our gutters. We have everything you need to make your next project a fast, simple success.