When it comes to the exterior of your home, every part has a unique role to play. But when you think about the exterior of your home, gutters are likely not the first thing that comes to mind, and it’s pretty easy to overlook them. However, they are vital to the structural integrity of your home.
Gutters play a vital role in shielding your home from moisture damage. If you are looking for experienced gutter contractors in Columbia, you have come to the right place.
At Midlands Roofing, we specialize in the installation of high-performance roofing, gutters, and other exterior home upgrades. We customize our services for a seamless appearance, which will not only look great but also minimize the risk of leaks and moisture damage.
Call us today at 803-414-6801 to learn more about how we can install seamless gutters in your home in Columbia, SC and the surrounding areas.
Why Are Gutters Important?
When it’s raining outside, you probably don’t think about where all the water is going. Usually, there’s a sewage drain on the side of the road. The same concept applies to gutters. Gutters are essentially the drainage system of your roof, such that rain and other matter on the roof are caught in a trough and disposed of through a downspout.
Gutters come in all kinds of designs and shapes, and they can be custom-made to suit the requirements of your home. However, they all share the same ultimate objective as outlined below.
Prevents Moss, Mold, and Mildew
Areas with high moisture levels that are vulnerable to low ventilation are great breeding areas for mold, mildew, and moss. This could mean that a huge disaster is waiting to happen.
This is often a result of inefficient drainage over time, which causes leakages in the fascia boards of the roof. This could potentially undermine the structural integrity of your roof, not to mention result in expensive repairs down the line. Having proper drainage with gutters helps to eliminate the risk of these growing around your home.
Curb Appeal
The beauty of your home is priceless. As mentioned earlier, gutters are available in different shapes, colors, designs, and styles, which gives them a unique aesthetic quality. If done correctly, gutters can help boost the property value and the resale value as a whole.
Protects the Siding and Roof
Weather will often be detrimental to the exterior of your home over time, and the damage can be quite costly to address, especially when it comes to the siding. Water may accumulate and get trapped between crevices, which causes it to slowly wear out. Gutters can be helpful in getting rid of the excess water, reducing the instances that these occur.
Gutters not only help with the drainage of your roof but also add more years to its lifespan.
Lowers the Likelihood of Insects or Pests
Pests and insects are likely to thrive in areas where water pools in and around the house. It’s essentially an invitation for them to breed and wreak havoc on your home. This can easily morph into a health hazard, making grounds ripe for diseases. Gutters control the flow of water away from the home, helping stop this problem altogether.
Preventing Soil Damage
Water freely flowing on the roof with no direction may look harmless, but it can negatively affect your soil. Without gutters, excess water will simply wash away the topsoil, taking it away with essential minerals. Gutters provide predictable water displacement to make sure that your adjacent gardens aren’t drowned or left lifeless.
How Do I Know When I Need New Gutters?
The following are some of the signs of gutter damage that you should pay careful attention to.
Gaps, Fractures, and Cracks
Gutters shouldn’t have large gaps. If they do have them repaired or replaced immediately.
If fractures and cracks are visible, water may leak into the fascia of the house. Small cracks can easily turn into larger fractures and cause greater problems for your entire drainage.
Sagging Gutters
Any gutters that are pulling or bowing away from the house show that the brackets are loose. If left untouched, it could lead to significant damage to your property.
Rust
Some gutters could suffer from rust due to excess rain. While the rusted parts may continue working for a while, it’s recommended that you install new sections before the shattered metal breaks and shatters.
Water Damage Marks
Discolorations on the external parts of your home, downspouts, or fascia could be an indication of moisture damage. Get your gutters inspected before the damage gets more serious.
Overflowing Water
If the gutters are overflowing, you might need a replacement, even if your downspouts are spitting water out. Overflowing may be a sign of poorly designed, improperly sloped, or improperly installed gutters.
Are There Different Types of Gutters?
Our gutter contractors in Columbia, SC can help you find the best option out of the many types of gutters available.
K-Style Gutters
These are the most popular forms of gutters, named for their iconic “k” shape design. Most homes will get the k-style gutters installed as they are a simple yet effective design.
Pros:
- Can hold exponentially more amount of water than other kinds of gutters
- Easy to install
- Front-facing side is designed to be decorative
- Generate a seamless look once they’re installed
Cons:
- Difficult to clean rigid corners
- Standing water might become a problem after huge rains, posing a risk for rust or corrosion
Half-Round Gutters
Just as with their name, these are u-shaped gutters with steep walls and an open roof.
Pros:
- Lots of homeowners prefer these over k-style gutters
- Easy to clean
- Come with hidden hangers that camouflage the hardware holding the gutters in place
- Available in many different styles
Cons:
- Much heavier than most types of gutters
- Can be significantly more expensive than other kinds of gutters
Fascia Gutters
The fascia board of a home is typically used to close off the attic space if a house has one. Usually, all kinds of gutters are installed directly onto this board. Fascia gutters act as both the gutter system and the fascia board it’s usually installed onto.
Pros:
- Great for homes without a fascia board installed
- Hides the ends of rafters
- Culminates in a seamless design around the house
- Usually much larger than k-style and half-round gutters, meaning better water displacement
Cons:
- Have to be customized to fit the unique parameters of your home
- Generally expensive to repair, install, and maintain
Are Gutters Available in Different Materials?
Gutters are available in a wide variety of materials, including the following:
Aluminum
This is the most popular material. Aluminum gutters are fully rust-resistant and fully waterproof. Additionally, aluminum gutters aren’t prone to damage during cold weather, which makes them the strongest lightweight material for gutters.
They’re also easy to paint over to match your exterior decor.
Pros:
- Strong yet lightweight
- Available as seamless gutters
- Rust-resistant and waterproof
- Easy to paint over
Cons:
- Can be dented easily
- Not as strong as copper
Copper
Copper is a great material for seamless gutters due to its sturdiness and rust-resistant properties. The gutters are therefore strong enough to withstand falling debris and can last generations if well maintained. They also look great and are perfect for period homes.
Pros:
- Sturdy and rust resistant
- Very durable
- Beautiful
- Available as seamless gutters
Cons:
- The initial investment is quite high
- Copper is naturally heavy
Vinyl
Vinyl is a common material for gutters because it’s cheap and lightweight. Vinyl gutters are generally cheap to install initially, but they don’t last as long as aluminum or copper gutters. They are okay for mild climates, and may not be ideal for the South Carolina weather.
Pros:
- Low initial cost
- Lightweight
- Easy to install
Cons:
- Prone to become brittle over time
- Only produced as seasonal gutters
- Tend to sag and can be leaky
- Not good for cold climates
Looking to Replace Your Gutters in Columbia? Call Midlands Roofing!
Have you decided on the best gutters for your home? The hard part is over. You can now sit back and let our gutter installation experts take it from here. At Midlands Roofing & Exteriors, we offer our clients premium products and services – ones we trust for our own homes!
We also make sure that our clients have countless styles, colors, and accessory options to choose from, so that the product they choose suits the decor of their home.
So whether you need completely new gutters, a gutter repair job, or gutter inspection services, we are ready to help. Reach out to us at 803-414-6801 for a free estimate.
