How to Choose the Best Gutters for Your Home

Your home’s protection from damaging water intrusion is closely connected to how well your gutters function. Rain and melting snow need to be directed away from your house’s perimeter to keep them from damaging your roof, fascia, landscaping, basement, and even your foundation. That’s why durable gutters are so vital to your home exterior. 

If your gutters are damaged and worn out, or if you are choosing gutters for a new home, knowing the features to look for ensures you get the high performance you need. Read on to discover the vital features to include in your new gutter system. 

9 Features that Ensure You’re Getting a Durable High-Performance Gutter System 

1. Seamless Gutters 

Sectional gutters are pieced together, creating vulnerable joints that can leak or separate. In contrast, seamless gutters are continuous and span your entire roofline. They are an excellent long-term, low-maintenance choice for your home. They won’t split apart like sectional gutters tend to, so you can rely on their performance over the years. These gutters are custom-fitted along your roof edge and blend in perfectly to complement your home’s looks. 

2. Clog-Free Technology

Cleaning out the muck that settles at the bottom of most gutters is not a favorite chore of most homeowners. After all, who wants to take the risk involved in climbing a ladder, and scooping everything from roof granules to deteriorating leaves and debris from every inch of their gutters? (Not to mention the fact that according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, falls from ladders account for more than 90,000 emergency room visits each year.)

At Lutgen Companies, we offer advanced gutter protection systems to keep debris, leaves, twigs (and fly balls!) out of your gutters, decreasing the need for frequent cleaning and maintenance. We ensure your new gutters are equipped with the protection they need to keep channeling water—without interruption—away from your home where it belongs. 

3. Properly Placed Downspouts

If you don’t have enough downspouts, it can lead to an overloaded gutter system during downpours, which creates standing water around your home’s perimeter. When downspouts aren’t placed properly around your exterior, soil erosion, insect infestation, and even costly structural damage may occur. These problems can be avoided by hiring a reputable contractor who will properly place your downspouts with precision. 

4. Expert Installation

A vital ingredient to the long-term high-performance of your gutter system is its detailed installation. It takes experienced craftsmen to design and install a gutter system that can fully protect your house against water intrusion. Your gutters need to be positioned at the right angle, and your downspouts must be properly placed for your gutter system to function as it was engineered to. Don’t settle for just any contractor—find a reputable one with expertise in gutter installation (like us!) so you get the results you desire. 

5. Customized Aesthetics

Your gutters may be small, but they can have a big impact on your home’s looks. With the right gutter style and color, you can enhance your home’s curb appeal, and increase its overall value. At Lutgen Companies, we tailor our gutter services to match your distinct needs. We offer a variety of gutter styles, materials, and colors to complement your property’s aesthetic and architecture. 

6. Durable Gutter Material

Aluminum gutters are the most popular gutters on the market. A practical gutter material, aluminum is resistant to rust and corrosion, and can stand up to harsh weather conditions such as snow, hail, and heavy rain. Aluminum gutters are seamless—so they don’t have vulnerable gaps between sections. They are weather resistant, and won’t thin over time. When installed properly by an experienced team of professionals (like us!) and maintained well, aluminum gutters are an excellent long-term investment. 

7. Properly Placed Gutter Hangers

Your gutter system is only as strong as its attachment to your home. It needs to stay secure without sagging under the weight of heavy snow, ice, or rain. Strong, free-floating hangers are made to bear the weight of your gutters and are a vital part of your gutter system’s function. They need to be properly placed for optimal results—another vital reason to hire an experienced contractor. 

8. Optimal Gutter Style 

K-Shape or Half-Round gutters are two excellent options when it comes to gutter styles. K-shaped gutters can handle more water than a Half-round gutters. The benefits of K-style gutters include their track record of being functional, durable, and cost effective. Half-round gutters are attractive, efficient, and low maintenance. They take up less space and since they don’t have any sharp corners, debris doesn’t tend to get stuck in them. Work with your contractor to determine the best gutter style for your house. It should be determined based on your roof size and shape, roof pitch, and the gutter material you choose. 

9. Proper Gutter Size

Your gutters need to be large enough to channel all the rain and melting snow away from your abode, so having the right size installed is vital to their success. Gutters come primarily in 5-inch and 6-inch widths. Homeowners who choose a smaller width and then experience a downpour may find their gutters get overloaded, causing water damage to their home. Avoid this dilemma by hiring an experienced contractor for your gutter project. They will advise you on the best width for your home’s gutters based on your climate. 

Get Reliable Gutter Installation for Your Minnesota Home  

At Lutgen Companies, we strategically place your new gutters and downspouts along the edges of your roof to capture water and direct it away from your foundation. The seamless gutters we install are crafted from high-quality materials and built to withstand our area’s climate, ensuring long-lasting performance and minimal maintenance. With almost four decades of expertise, our team of gutter specialists ensure your system is installed to perfection. Learn more about how our gutter services can protect your home from damage and add to its value.