Are you a new homeowner in need of a reliable gutter system? Or maybe your existing gutters are showing signs of wear and tear? Choosing the right gutter system can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re not familiar with the different styles and the protection they offer.
While selecting the right gutter type is important, how they’re installed is equally crucial. Though the basic process of attaching gutters to your home might seem straightforward, not all installation methods are created equal. Keep reading as we break down various gutter installation techniques to help you decide which one is best for your home.
Gutter Installation Techniques
Gutter installation techniques vary by company and the type of system that’s being installed. Many name brands use different installation techniques like how they connect the components and how they mount them to the home:
Gutter Type
Sectional
An older, traditional gutter installation technique is to install sectional gutters. Unlike seamless gutters, sectional gutters are installed in sections; pieces of the gutter are connected using bolts and screws. While this technique has been around for a long time, it definitely has its drawbacks: the seams will loosen from severe weather or heavy ice/snow, sectional gutters are prone to leaking, and they often clog from debris getting trapped in the tiny openings between each section.
Seamless
Installing seamless gutters is different; they’re installed using a continuous piece of material, only connected to the downspouts. Rather than having a handful of pieces that are connected by tons of bolts and screws, seamless gutters are longer pieces of material that won’t develop gaps between sections. However, not all seamless gutters are the same.
Some seamless gutter systems are more prone to clogging than others, and some have gutter guards while others are half-round gutters, and some companies use different mounting techniques.
Mounting
Mounting refers to how the gutters and downspouts are connected to the home. Some companies use mounting techniques that connect the gutter system to the fascia board, roof, or materials like spikes/nails:
Ferrules & Nails to the Fascia Board
A more traditional gutter installation technique is mounting a gutter system to the home with spikes and nails to the fascia board. Though many gutter installation companies will mount gutters this way, our team at K-Guard® of Central Ohio does not recommend this mounting method. The holes required for the spikes/nails are large and are likely to leak, and the ferrules can rust and crack from exposure to rapidly changing temperatures and severe weather.
Mounting Gutter Guards to the Roof
Some gutter installation companies or homeowners attempting a DIY project will mount gutter guards either too close to the roof shingles or directly to them. Unfortunately, mounting gutter guards directly to the roof or shingles void the roof’s warranty, a major issue that homeowners don’t often realize until they try to file a claim for roof damage.
How does mounting gutter guards to the roof void a roof warranty? Most roof warranties require that no foreign objects be installed on the roof and if gutter guards are mounted to the roof or touch the shingles, it’ll most likely be voided, costing homeowners thousands of dollars to replace when it could have been covered under warranty.
Hangers to the Fascia Board
Another gutter mounting technique is installing gutter hangers to the fascia board and then mounting the gutters to the hangers. Using a hanger is a preferred method, yet because of the major role the fascia board plays in supporting the roof, isn’t recommended for a DIY gutter installation and must be installed by a gutter installation professional from a reputable company.
Mounting gutters to a hanger connected to a fascia board offers excellent strength, and the gutters are less affected by severe weather and sagging. Unfortunately, some companies, homeowners who tackle a DIY project, or independent contractors will mount the hangers to the fascia and make mistakes, unknowingly installing them too close or too far from each other which can result in uneven weight distribution.
Hangers come in different materials like steel, aluminum, or vinyl. Steel and aluminum hangers can rust and corrode, causing damage to the hangers and even the gutter system. Vinyl is not a recommended mounting or gutter system material since it is not durable and can’t support the weight of heavy rainfall and snow accumulation, weather we often get here in Central Ohio.
K-Guard® of Central Ohio Mounts the Gutter System Using Patented Polymer Hangers That Never Void Your Roof’s Warranty
Installing K-Guard® Gutters from K-Guard® of Central Ohio ensures your gutter guards will be mounted in a way that will never void your roof’s warranty. Our patented polymer gutter hangers are installed to your existing fascia board, yet will never be installed in a way that touches or is attached directly to a shingle, protecting your roof’s warranty. Our hangers are made from all-weather polymers that offer full support, never sagging or tearing away from the home in severe weather.
If you want a permanent gutter solution that never needs cleaning or replacing, consider installing the K-Guard® Leaf Free Gutter System. It’s a full system with multiple components like a curved hood that work together to prevent clogs while keeping water moving through the system rapidly. Because debris can’t enter the system it’ll stay clog-free for life! That means never having to perform gutter maintenance or repair your gutters again. Plus, it’s a seamless gutter system so there’s no chance for seams to loosen or the gutters to leak. K-Guard® gutters are best for Ohio because they can withstand any weather condition, never needing maintenance, gutter repair, or gutter replacement.
K-Guard® also comes with a transferrable lifetime warranty that protects your investment. Our lifetime warranty ensures your gutter system’s paint will never chip or fade, the system will never clog, and you’ll never need to perform gutter maintenance again. No other gutter system on the market can match the durability, capacity, performance, and warranty of K-Guard®. Plus, you can customize your K-Guard® System so it complements your home.
Contact our team today if you’re ready to switch to the K-Guard® System. We’ll be happy to schedule a free estimate and provide a detailed analysis of your current gutter system and a quote for installing our K-Guard® Gutters.