When it comes to home maintenance, gutters are no small thing. Without them, rainwater isn’t carried away from your home, leaving it to erode your foundation, leak into basements, and splash dirt along the siding of your home.
You might think your gutters are okay, but after a big storm, you might walk outside only to find your gutters peeling away from the house. Luckily, installing gutters isn’t going to be the worst home repair you ever go through. Here are a few things you should keep in mind once you realize you need new gutters.
Installing Gutters is Not an Easy DIY Project
It’s tempting to just Google instructions and get to work after a visit to Home Depot. However, in the case of gutters, you may want to leave it to an expert. One prime reason for this is that working on gutters will require you to be 10-20 feet in the air at least, where you could easily get hurt. After all, 160,000 plus people experience ladder injuries every year. A hospital visit after a slip and fall is not worth the money you’re going to save.
If you are still leaning toward this project, This Old House says that the difficulty level is “moderate” for a one-story home, and that the job should take 10 to 12 hours.
Types of Rain Gutters
There are a few different types of house gutters you can use. Copper is durable, and easy to install. Cast iron is durable, but also heavy, and it will require painting. Vinyl is light, good in areas that do not experience extreme temperatures, and needs only minimal maintenance. Aluminum is lightweight, though the jointing systems can vary. Specialists can make continuous (non joint) gutters for you.
Better Gutters Can be a Strong Addition to Your Landscaping
Did you know that good landscaping can add up to 28% to your home’s overall value? Copper is a popular option for rain gutters, because over time, it develops a nice patina. Well kept gutters can be an asset to your home, and experts actually recommend putting 10-20% of your home’s value on just landscaping. A Clemson University study indicates that taking your landscaping from “good” to “excellent” can add 7% to your home’s overall value.
