Seamless Gutters and Gutter Guards St Paul Minnesota
In the last few weeks, here in Minnesota we have had our share of rain. How are your gutters holding up? After a few good rain storms, it is the perfect time to walk around your house to see if your gutters and downspouts are doing their job. Also, look for any damage this past winter may have inflicted. Heavy snow and ice dams can certainly take a toll on your gutter system. While some home exterior damage is easily visible, some may be hard to spot by an untrained eye.
Are your gutters prepared to weather the storms that come with spring rains?
Then comes rain, wind, and severe weather from spring storms. Adding to this already bad situation, is spring going into the summer creating the warmth that fungus needs to grow. Then comes the next wave of destruction. Those uninvited guests. Standing water and rotted wood provide food, drink, and homes for insects and other nasty little pests.
Are your gutters prepared to weather the storms that come with spring rains?
When it starts raining, an incredible amount of water beats down on the roof of your house. Each year, over 43,000,000 cubic inches of rain flow off of the average 30-square roof. That’s over 120,000 gallons; more than enough water to fill 16 Olympic size swimming pools! That is a LOT of water and weight. With water weighing over 8 pounds a gallon, it doesn’t take much more than one decent rainfall to cause some serious damage to your home. In fact, nearly all gutter installations eventually fail simply due to weight of water. That’s why during heavy rainfalls, a gutter system’s strength is important.
Save yourself an unbelievable amount of trouble (and money) when gutter problems actually threaten your home. Remember, the main purpose of the gutter is to channel water away from your home and if they aren’t working properly, this obviously is not happening.
Eventually problems will show up as expensive soffit damage, fascia damage or interior damages that can destroy ceilings, walls, floors, cause mold, and even cause concrete foundation cracks to appear. Unfortunately, it often doesn’t show up until it’s too late!
Seamless Gutters & Gutter Guards Protect Your Home
The permanent solution to properly divert water away from your house is to install seamless gutters along with gutter guards that can be installed onto your existing gutters, in most cases. We prefer seamless gutters because there are fewer connections to worry about when it rains or snows.
Weather conditions are definitely something we have to consider when living in Minnesota. With seamless gutters, however, there is less of a chance of leaking. This means less worrying about water damage to any part of your home, including your siding, landscaping, foundation or anything else. ANY water next to your home’s foundation is NOT a good thing!
When you have gutters with several connections, they are not as strong as seamless gutters and they can buckle under the pressure of heavy snow, rain and ice. In Minnesota, those are very real conditions that have been the downfall of many gutters with connections. All it takes is for one joint or connection to weaken and your entire gutter system could end up on the ground. When installed correctly by a professional, seamless gutters can withstand a great deal of weight without getting damaged. There are no joints to become weakened and no seams that leak.
Gutter Styles Available for Your Home
The two most common gutter styles found on homes today are K-style or traditional Half-Round gutters. Both are sufficient for Minnesota seasons, but depending on your homes exterior architecture one may look more appealing than the other. Newer fabrication technologies have made both affordable.
Gutter Materials
Most gutters on homes in the Twin Cities, and throughout Minnesota, are made of steel or aluminum. Although some prefer the elegant look of copper. There are also vinyl gutters, however vinyl’s lifespan is limited and may not hold up in the cold temperatures of a Minnesota winter.
Aluminum Gutter Materials
Aluminum gutters have become a popular choice due to cost and the fact that is can be made from post-consumer and recycled material. They are relatively low cost, resist corrosion, and can last for 15 years or more if not damaged by ladders or storms.
Steel Gutter Materials
Steel gutters are available in a plain galvanized or enamel finishes and a wide variety of colors. Steel gutters last on average about 15 years. Steel is a good choice for gutter in northern states with snow and ice conditions as steel gutters can bear a much heavier load than aluminum.
The one, and may I add, ONLY disadvantage to seamless gutters, is that they have to be installed by an experienced St Paul Minnesota gutter contractor. You want to consider the installation company you choose. Ask them about their warranties. An excellent warranty can often become a tipping point in the home selling process. It can help assure prospective buyers that your home has been well maintained and cared for. Make sure they are reputable by asking for references and checking with your local BBB.