SourceMany real estate experts understand that curb appeal is extremely important when boosting the value of a home. When you are looking to add more value the first things that you ensure are completed are your maintenance projects. There can be negative effects to the popularity of your listing if you plan to put your home on the market and there are repair issues that you may have neglected. Not only that, homes can experience serious damage if certain problem areas are not addressed.
Gutters are often an overlooked part of the exterior foundations of your home and can additionally open the doors to water damage if it’s not maintained or installed properly. There are a lot of things to consider when looking to improve your gutter system, both for functionality and aesthetics. The following key considerations help you understand what you can do to ensure that your gutters provide added value to your home while combining that extra layer of protection.
Types of Gutters
If the exterior of a home is enhanced with new gutters that correlate with the character of the home it can increase the potential of your home’s value. There are different types of roof gutters available. They come in different shapes, colors, sizes, and the materials help create a chic modern as well as distinct look when matched with a home’s exterior character. This varies according to the materials that are used but most importantly the style that they are made in. The two styles that are known are seamless gutters and sectional gutters.
The different color combinations that you can match to your preferences are only available with seamless options. Seamless gutters are considered to be the better option between the two by many. The reason for this is not only because of the variety of colors but because it is not prone to as much leakage as its counterpart, the sectional gutters. It is securely built around the home, and the gutter body does not break, since it is created in one section, eliminating the need for the joints to be linked until it reaches the roof’s corner points. This is why they were dubbed “seamless gutters.” If the gutters are damaged, the entire gutter body that is attached to the portion of the roof where the damage is discovered must be replaced. Making both installation and repair an expensive endeavor.
Sectional gutters are easier to install which is why they are known as DIY gutters. The gutter body is easily attached with what is known as a straight connector to join the pieces together. They can also be overlapped. The problem that many find with the sectional gutters is that they need consistent maintenance because of the connectors that allow water to easily leak through at the seams. This can easily cause rust which leads to more damage in the long term if not maintained or repaired. If you DIY this type of gutter you would need to make sure that you have adequate materials installed. That would include the overflow outlet which makes sure that the water capacity is not reached. You would need to additionally add the top flashing to prevent additional leaks and other pieces for an efficient gutter system. Professional help may be advised unless you had handled gutter installations before to save your investments.
Types of Materials
The gutter shape dictates the materials that can be combined with it. Choosing the right type of materials is essential when ensuring that you have chosen the right option for your home. What is available will have certain appearances and need to be properly installed. It’s important to do your research and communicate with your professional gutter repair specialist what is best suited to the styles and how long they will potentially last. The following are the different options available.
- Copper gutters
- Aluminum gutters
- Stainless steel gutters
- Vinyl gutters
- Zinc gutters
Eco-Friendly Gutter System
When the drainage water is being redirected away from your home you are protecting it from damage. As you know, to prevent weak gutter drainage it is important to periodically maintain them and ensure your downspouts are working efficiently. There has been a trend to enhance the home with environmentally conscious improvements over the years.
Having eco-friendly water systems can go a long way in providing long-term environmental benefits and monetary savings which gutters or their alternatives do have the ability to contribute to. This can be done through practical site drainage that allows you to direct it to a rain garden or to harvest the rainwater. Environmentally-friendly solutions can also boost curb appeal especially with the increased desire for the different features. The underground gutters are one of the eco-friendly solutions that are available.
An underground gutter is as its name indicates, installed underground drainpipes and gutters that carry water off a certain distance away. Ground gutter systems are also typically known as the french drainage systems. It is connected to your roof gutters through the downspout at the bottom of the system. The gutters are built in a narrow trench around specific stones and can connect to either water tanks for harvesting or lead off into different areas to be absorbed by the surrounding plants. The water should not link to or be near your sewage drainage system; this avoids your pure rainfall water from getting contaminated with untreated waste or chemicals and disrupting the environment.
It has become increasingly popular over the years to help homes that have areas prone to becoming saturated with unwanted pools of water. Many homeowners use this method to avoid problems with the area of their grass nearest to their home’s foundation where the downspout discharges water runoff. Likewise, homes that have basements sometimes face concerns of water seeping down over time from the drainage point into the space which ultimately causes water damage. If an underground drain is built, it is critical to maintain and clean it regularly to ensure that no debris falls into it. Debris can block the movement of the water and can potentially cause damage to the pipes over some time.
